Strike won’t put patients at risk: GMOA

The 24-hour token strike has been successfully launched across hospitals island-wide, Secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Dr. Haritha Aluthge said.

Except for those medical professionals who are attending to emergency services, doctors have withdrawn from duties across hospitals marking a day of protest called by a collective of professionals and trade unions in Sri Lanka. 

"All trade unions representing the medical field are taking part in today's strike for the first time in history," Dr. Aluthge said. 

A collective of trade unions representing government, semi-government and private sector employees have decided to take part in today's (February 8) protest against the government's tax policy revision and medical supply shortages in the country. Dr. Aluthge said that groups that do not traditionally resort to trade union action too have joined today's protest to express their dissent against the government. 

Asked if the strike action may put lives of patients at risk, Dr. Aluthge reiterated that emergency services will function. "We will not allow the strike to risk patients' lives. Emergency services are on standby and we have discussed this with hospital directors as well. We state with responsibility that the strike will not risk lives of patients," Dr. Aluthge said. 

The GMOA warned that they will not hesitate to take further trade union action, if they do not receive a positive response from the government. (Kalani Kumarasinghe)