While many professionals in the health sector question the details of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between the Governments of Sri Lanka and India related to the health sector, the Government is yet to respond to the Right to Information (RTI) request submitted by the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), said the GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathapala.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (16), Dr. Sugathapala said that the authorities are yet to reply to the request. He stated that it has been more than two weeks since the RTI was submitted, yet, the response has been unreasonably delayed. He also urged the authorities to disclose the details as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the Joint Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine Secretary Chanaka Dharmawickrama told The Daily Morning that they are unaware of the contents of the said agreements, and that it remains unclear as to whether the Government intends to import medicine or human resources.

The GMOA submitted a request under the RTI Act, No. 12 of 2016, seeking details of the MoUs signed between the Governments of Sri Lanka and India concerning the health sector. During the recent official visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two MoUs were signed between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media of Sri Lanka, and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority.

A total of seven MoUs were exchanged between various State institutions of India and Sri Lanka during Premier Modi's visit to Sri Lanka.