Health workers announce massive strike action next week

13 January 2024 01:56 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 52 Bookmark

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Colombo, Jan 13 (Daily Mirror) - Non-doctor employees are gearing up for an island-wide strike on Tuesday, January 16, as declared by the trade unions representing the health sector.

According to the trade union leadership, the massive strike is a coordinated effort involving 27 trade unions within the health domain.

The primary demand of the strike is to express dissatisfaction with the government's decision to increase the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance for doctors.

The trade unions also demand they too be given the DAT allowance.

Hospitals experienced disruptions in services last week crippling healthcare due to a series of token strikes launched by the paramedical and supplementary health services' unions.

Comments - 52

Independent Saturday, 13 January 2024 02:10 PM

Doctors think they are supreme. Government is stupid to increase allowances of only Docs without even considering and totally forgetting other health workers. Where is the fairness? This does not mean health workers should resort to trade union action. Anyone on trade union action must be sacked. Reverse doctors allowances. Doctors take government to ransom Free educated nothing less than morons, highly irresponsible selfish pricks! Public should boycott unfair doctors and ignore them out of work and corner them.

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Sahas Saturday, 13 January 2024 03:46 PM

This was discussed between doctors trade union and ministry for many more years, approved but didnt pay due to lack of funds. Now only its implemented. So its not a new thing

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Indika Saturday, 13 January 2024 04:54 PM

You are such an idiot. When you or family get ill dont ever go to a doctor. Please ..

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ruwan Saturday, 13 January 2024 05:06 PM

doctors have been marking proposals and doing all to get a fair allowance while other trade unions stayed silent. once doctors get it, now everyone wants it. that's also full allowance

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Tom Saturday, 13 January 2024 05:29 PM

The present GMOA is on par with any 3rd grade union in this country. But, you have to admit that nowhere in the world that the doctors are treated on same level as all the others in the Health Sector. It is like any other organisation, govt or private.

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Ghost of jealousy Saturday, 13 January 2024 06:58 PM

Saman Rathnapriya's ghost is also an inferior jealous yet ignorant chap

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Lankan poor Saturday, 13 January 2024 11:49 PM

Doctors charging from one patient around 4800/- for channelling. And that doctors see nearly 50 patient within 2-3 hours. So just calculate how much those people earning in a mintue? Again why they need allowances. Same way university acedamics. Many of their research papers are just rubbish for that govt money is paid again the are going to get allowances. So, that means they only has to live and others must die??? All the prices are increased, atleast food items they could have omitted from the tax list.

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Nimal Saturday, 13 January 2024 02:11 PM

Way to go until this miserable government is chased away.

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Freeman Saturday, 13 January 2024 05:36 PM

Do you really think it is the solution? Our whole society is corrupted. We have to change our education system upside down

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Patriot Sunday, 14 January 2024 12:49 AM

Really? What kind of person are you? To sacrifice people's lives for your own political advantage?

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Jagath Ekanaya Sunday, 14 January 2024 04:16 AM

So what do you suggest Freeman? Hand it power back to the Rajapaksas? Don't be don't be so helpless and naive

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SenPera Sunday, 14 January 2024 04:19 AM

What the people need is for these union mafia and their JVP masters to be chased into the ocean!

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Mahila Sunday, 14 January 2024 10:06 AM

First of all, leave everything aside and all other consideration annulled, One must Ponder why this country has descended to this Parlous state!? 75 years since independence!? We complain about corruption – ‘Top to Bottom and Left to Right’!!!??? Agree that’s blatant truth and all must admit, accept culpability!? ONE MAY ASK WHY??? ALL CITIZENS CULPABLE, RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE, IN ELECTING THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, to Parliament to Govern, WE, SOVEREIGN PEOPLE OF SL resort to accepting "BRIBERY and CORRUPTION" as “given”!!! Rs 5000, Chicken Biryani

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Be Fair Saturday, 13 January 2024 02:23 PM

Privatisation is what is needed

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Lanks Saturday, 13 January 2024 03:11 PM

NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TILL CHASE OUT KELIYA AND GANGS.

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Dee Saturday, 13 January 2024 03:41 PM

Future government at work. Imagine after they are voted in?

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Uthum Sunday, 14 January 2024 07:53 AM

Not future government, but rather aspirants of a future government. They would even have patients (people) die and suffer in their quest to try and come to power. Sounds familiar? A leopard does not change its spots they say.

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Were you in politics? Sunday, 14 January 2024 09:23 AM

Dee! Your mind work very fast to recognize the plot of future government to defeat the present one. But how many others know this plot. For them "Ranil Bashing" is the priority, and Ranil is least worried.

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Ram Saturday, 13 January 2024 03:51 PM

Health is an essential service. What can RW do to prevent the strike? He is overseas galivanting with our money when some of our brothers

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Rt Saturday, 13 January 2024 03:55 PM

Sack the leaders. Otherwise this will never end.

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Kabir Hashim Saturday, 13 January 2024 04:08 PM

Many doctors are doing private practice while getting pay and benefits from taxpayers money.

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Kumara Choksanada Saturday, 13 January 2024 04:10 PM

Doctors are in the private hospitals most of the time even they are supposed to be in the government hospital while getting paid peoples money.

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Avery Markham Saturday, 13 January 2024 04:11 PM

More than 20% of workforce is in government jobs, this has to reduce drastically.

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Hipocrates Saturday, 13 January 2024 04:32 PM

It is time that people get together

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Dee Saturday, 13 January 2024 11:31 PM

Likeminded people get together! My Gardner is missing.

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Siva Saturday, 13 January 2024 04:37 PM

Useless trade unions . jealousy at its high level. Nowhere to equalize doctor to a nurse. Public is suffering because of kumudesh .soon people will throw stones for those strikes

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Grace Saturday, 13 January 2024 04:38 PM

Don't think doctors who migrated to Western countries get the same respect they are getting here. Many are working in supermarkets, clinics as minor workers, taxi drivers etc.

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Jealous masses in SL Sunday, 14 January 2024 06:23 PM

Can you please give evidence... we are going to accept it if you give proof... jealousy talks, we laugh

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Privatise Saturday, 13 January 2024 05:19 PM

These fellows treat patients like animals at the hospital. The way the speak to patients is horrible. They opeational efficiency is zero. Must privatise these places and allow for universal insurance. Where the govt pays the insurance bill and patients can medicine from any hospital they want

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Sobers Saturday, 13 January 2024 05:48 PM

Govt has messed up due to wrong decesios, atleast a percentage should be given to other medical staff. Only way is to see that this govt is chased away at the earliest.

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THE HARD TRUTH Saturday, 13 January 2024 09:23 PM

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT, WHATEVER THEY WANT. BUT HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND POLICE CAN'T DO MASSIVE STRIKE.

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Strike walas Saturday, 13 January 2024 10:24 PM

It is the work less government servants who initiate strikes. We have strike...strike....strike with out any "fruits" but increase the salary. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD WE ARE IN. The government does not have the ability to plan.

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Strike walas Saturday, 13 January 2024 10:25 PM

It is the work less government servants who initiate strikes. We have strike...strike....strike with out any "fruits" but increase the salary. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD WE ARE IN. The government does not have the ability to plan.

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Mr.Embirrissawa Saturday, 13 January 2024 11:10 PM

You have to strike at the correct time before it is late to get yr demand.That is the purpose of a strike.Govt will give in w/0 same you cannot get the precious much needed vote.

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Niran Sunday, 14 January 2024 02:56 AM

We have seen

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Somasekera Sunday, 14 January 2024 03:59 AM

Government should either withdraw Rs35,000 allowance from medical officers (they must not call doctors, but medical officers) or give same amount to all other health professionals. All medical officers must not be allowed to use Dr sign on vehicle windscreens like in developed countries. They can be given simple vehicle pass without writing any other than just their name. This is the fair way!

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Beggar Tuesday, 16 January 2024 03:23 PM

Typical poor jvp beggar talk

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KP Sunday, 14 January 2024 03:59 AM

@ Independent Whether you like it or not, doctors are supreme in the healthcare hierarchy. People don’t go to doctors as a kindness towards doctors. They go to them to save their own life’s. The advice to boycott doctors is like telling a drowning person to avoid the lifeguard. What an idiotic comment.

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Navin Perera Sunday, 14 January 2024 04:20 AM

Let's auction the country off to a private organisation. People will benefit a lot more rather than being run by a bunch of corrupt lowlife politicians.

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Natalie Nanayaka Sunday, 14 January 2024 04:21 AM

Ranil is spending his time and our money in Swiss gay bars while the country is going to hell.

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Idiot president Sunday, 14 January 2024 04:27 AM

We should get some Russian qualified doctors for half price.

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Bandu Sunday, 14 January 2024 04:56 AM

Don't want to work stay home or get another job. Its tax payers money been wasted...

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Sobers Sunday, 14 January 2024 06:37 AM

Govt has to be blamed. The most money conscious greediness profession in mother lanka is Medical Professionals comprising Doctors,consultants and the other concerned doctors. They should know that they were free education. Goats play politics. Tha masses suffer. In srilanka, including the clergy are all in pay list of politicians. The theme is money above country and corrupt and illiterate political culture. God safe mother lanka. No light to be seen at the end up tunnel.

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DOT Sunday, 14 January 2024 06:59 AM

Power hungry ! Only poor, ordinary citizens will suffer. This is NOT the way to prepare for elections! Sri Lanka's private medical sector is capable to caterer the middle class and above at any giving situation. ONLY the poor will get affected

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Jayantha Sunday, 14 January 2024 08:00 AM

Health is an essential sector. What rw is trying to do is create tension within certain sectors. Divide and rule. All in health sector should be given an acceptable transport allowance.At the same time the key government hospitals should have a set of paid wards so that at least the government can get some extra revenue. For example even the maternity wards can have a seperate paid ward. People will happily pay. I once visited galle main maternity ward to see a friend and it was horrible. The building is done by tsunami time and mothers are sweating like as if it is raining inside. Very poorly managed. Probably if paid wards can be created that income can be used to have better facilities.

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Banuka Sunday, 14 January 2024 08:38 AM

People expect govt will do everything... Wrong mentality No of govt jobs should reduce else govt servants are taking for granted

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Joshua Sunday, 14 January 2024 10:14 AM

Time for Ranil's worthless and ineffective essential service Gazette.

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Terrence K Sunday, 14 January 2024 11:40 AM

All these non doctors are asking for the disturbance allowance of Rs. 35000/= in spite of these categories shierking their normal duties and patients have to get outside help paying astronomical prices. At least the doctors if they leave the service they can get a respectable job overseas. However these nurses, attendants etc will never be tolerated overseas and even in Sri Lanka they will have to work as garbage collectors undergoing the smell of the public garbage. Only solution is issue a letter of vacation of post like in the early 1980's. and see the repercussions where they and their families will experience. The patients have undergone immense hardship due to the callousness of these workers!

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gunadasa Sunday, 14 January 2024 09:21 PM

This curse stemmed from Maina, Kaputa and crowd. Curse is soon to follow them and their kith and kin no doubt about it - very soon. However, these people are really sick together with T/U leaders as well. This is all as result of a useless war we fought without realizing the root cause of it created by our past leader and the way we controlled the rise. The funniest and the worse part of it is that some block heads in the parliament as well do still boast about having won a war with our own country men. Laughable and pathetic for our stupidity.

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Observer Sunday, 14 January 2024 11:35 PM

Indika

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Sandamali Tuesday, 16 January 2024 01:36 PM

Don't be jealous; not all doctors engage in private practice. Doctors are often considered more responsible than other medical staff, and they are entitled to have DAT. Currently, some doctors are leaving the country, and we need to protect them. Only poor people truly understand the value of free healthcare."

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Public observation and Saturday, 20 January 2024 10:39 AM

Changing name of the post from nurses to nursing officers, laboratory Assistans to laboratory technologists will not give any change in their knowledge / IQ. We don't need officers for measuring urine out put, arranging beds, giving drugs to patients accordingly what doctors asked under doctor's monitoring . Their responsibility is locking Patient’s daily drugs cupboards for trade union actions. Laboratory assistants are just handling automated machines. They dont do technology work. Here also doctors are the executives. Both of these works can be done by lay people with few days of training. Therefore abolish these posts and recurrent newly in casual basis. Then you can expect the quality.

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