• Doctors’ union sets aside disagreements with Government to prioritise emergency care
• GMOA says humanitarian crisis demands unity despite unresolved issues

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to set aside their ongoing disputes with Government authorities and extend full support to rescue and relief operations underway across the island following the severe weather conditions.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), GMOA’s Media Committee Member Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said that the Association had decided to temporarily suspend its disagreements with the Government and the Ministry of Health and Mass Media—particularly those connected to the 2026 Budget in order to prioritise emergency medical assistance for affected communities.

He said that various forms of trade union (TU) action had been launched due to the Government’s failure to offer a meaningful or timely intervention regarding longstanding issues affecting the medical profession and the country’s healthcare system.

“The TU actions we initiated were a result of the lack of a positive response from the Government to resolve the pressing concerns of the medical fraternity and the health service. Our expectation was to ensure justice for the country’s health system and hospital network, as we did not receive the level of intervention we had hoped for,” Dr. Wijesinghe added.

However, he emphasised that the humanitarian crisis created by the extreme weather required united national action, prompting the GMOA to place its demands on hold and focus instead on supporting rescue teams and providing essential medical care in disaster-hit areas.