The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced that it will launch a countrywide trade union action today (31) in protest against what it calls the arbitrary transfer procedure being implemented for government doctors.
Addressing a media briefing on Wednesday (29), GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa said the decision to strike had been taken after repeated attempts to engage with the Ministry of Health failed to produce results.
The union warned that if the transfer mechanism was enforced by yesterday evening (30), the Health Ministry must bear full responsibility for any disruptions to healthcare services across the country. The GMOA has demanded that the proposed transfer system be immediately suspended and future transfers be carried out through a transparent and consultative
process involving all relevant stakeholders to ensure the smooth functioning of the health service.
The association has alleged that the Health Ministry’s unilateral actions are undermining the independence of the medical service, adding that the move raises “serious suspicions” of an attempt by certain groups to destabilise Sri Lanka’s public health system for personal or financial gain.
“We have presented several proposals to the Ministry regarding a fair and systematic transfer process, but so far there has been no response or discussion,” Dr. Sugathadasa said.