• Slam Prez DG TU Saman Rathnapriya’s conflict of interest, cite shortages, salary cuts

Several trade unions (TUs) within the health sector have decided to launch a 24-hour strike from 6.30 a.m. onwards today (8) following the failed discussions held yesterday (7) between them and Secretary to the Ministry of Health Janaka Sri Chandraguptha regarding the crisis situation in the health sector and the problems faced by health professionals.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) President Ravi Kumudesh said that despite the ability to resolve issues in the health sector through negotiations, thereby avoiding trade union actions, the Presidential Secretariat is acting in an arbitrary manner with regard to their requests. 

“Especially Director General (DG) – Trade Unions to President Ranil Wickremesinghe Saman Rathnapriya is attempting to sabotage our trade union actions without paving the way for negotiations. He is directing Chandraguptha to sabotage our actions. We also have a question about whether he can hold the leadership of a trade union while bearing responsibilities as the DG – Trade Unions to the President,” he said. 

In protest of his actions, and issues such as the shortage of pharmaceutical drugs and medical equipment, the Government’s attempts to curtail health workers’ salaries by 15%, the declaration of the health service as an essential service with the alleged intention of disrupting the trade unions’ programme, the raising of bank interest rates, and the ever-increasing cost of living, Kumudesh said that trade unions representing several categories of health workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and medical laboratory technologists, would launch a 24-hour strike from 6:30 a.m. today.

The country’s free health sector is currently in a state of crisis for several reasons including the shortage of pharmaceutical drugs and other medical supplies. With the high cost of living at present, public servants, including health workers have also demanded a salary increase, but the Government has stated that it is not in a position to provide such in the current situation. Furthermore, following the retirement of a considerable number of health sector employees on 31 December 2022 in accordance with the Government’s new retirement policy, a shortage of employees has also arisen.