• Says healthcare delivery remains unaffected

Although the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) was engaged in several trade union actions over the past two months — most recently refraining from submitting essential data to the Ministry — Deputy Minister of Health Dr Hansaka Wijemuni said the broader medical community continues to provide uninterrupted services to patients.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (22) regarding the Ministry’s position on the ongoing trade union measures, he said nearly 90% of the demands put forward by the GMOA were financial in nature.

Citing an example, he noted the demand to reintroduce the vehicle permit was difficult at present owing to the dollar exchange rate. "The number of vehicles being imported into the country has increased. However, a rise in the exchange rate would only push up the amount to be paid for the permit as well."

The Deputy Minister also noted the GMOA had continued its trade union measures even during the national crisis that followed the impact of the cyclone.

He added that several other health sector trade unions were also submitting demands to the Ministry of Health, most of which were linked to financial benefits. These cumulative requests, he said, had prompted the President to urge State sector employees to refrain from seeking salary increments until the 2027 Budget.

Dr Wijemuni stressed that, despite the union’s activities, doctors across the country have continued their daily clinical duties without disruption, ensuring the continuity of public healthcare services.

The GMOA’s demands include initiating procedures to establish a special service category titled the “Sri Lanka Medical Service” incorporating doctors of all categories, revising the Disturbance, Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance, bringing specialists and medical officers under Circular 22/99, converting additional duty payments into a fixed allowance, and addressing issues relating to research allowances.

Among the trade union actions implemented in recent weeks, GMOA members have refrained from issuing prescriptions requiring private sector purchases, declined to examine patients without a chaperone present, and since last week have stopped providing essential administrative data to the Ministry.