• Doctors to withdraw cover-up services at several units 

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has warned that it would intensify its ongoing trade union action from today (02) by withdrawing from providing cover-up services in several hospital units across the country. 

Speaking to The Daily Morning, GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Hansamal Weerasuriya said yesterday (01) that although doctors are expected to receive a stipulated percentage as payment for cover-up services, those providing such services have not been paid at all. “Despite this, doctors have continued to carry out cover-up duties across several units, even as consultant shortages persist islandwide,” he said.

He added that specialist doctors would henceforth provide specialist services only at the hospitals to which they are officially attached and would withdraw from covering duties at hospitals where no specialist doctors are assigned.

Dr. Weerasuriya also said the union has already stopped issuing prescriptions for patients to obtain pharmaceuticals and laboratory tests that are unavailable at hospitals. "In addition, doctors have withdrawn from voluntarily participating in health camps and clinics organised by political groups, halted the attachment of doctors to newly opened hospital wards and units that do not have the approved number of staff, and ceased examining patients in settings where adequate facilities and a chaperone are not available."

The GMOA’s demands include initiating the process to establish a special service category titled the Sri Lanka Medical Service, encompassing doctors of all categories; revising the Disturbance, Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance; incorporating doctors and specialists under Circular 22/99; converting the additional duty allowance into a fixed allowance; and resolving issues related to the research allowance.

Attempts by The Daily Morning to contact the Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni and the Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Anil Jasinghe proved futile.