The Government does not appear to be in any hurry to resolve issues affecting doctors and are dismissing ongoing trade union actions as politically motivated, said Assistant Secretary of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), Dr. Hansamal Weerasuriya. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (15), he said the GMOA is an apolitical trade union that was using various measures short of striking to draw the Government’s attention to its demands. However, he added, the Government has framed these measures politically, resulting in a deadlock as authorities seem intent on showing that no matter what the doctors’ union does, it will not relent.

“There seems to be a deadlock with regard to the solutions to our issues,” he said, and noted the GMOA would meet this week to decide on potentially escalating the strike further.

The medical officers’ demands include the initiation of a special service category titled the ‘Sri Lanka Medical Service’ for doctors of all categories, revision of the Disturbance, Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance, inclusion of doctors and specialists under Circular 22/99, conversion of the Extra Duty Allowance into a fixed allowance, and resolution of issues related to the research allowance.

Efforts to contact Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni and Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe were unsuccessful.