• Emergency services won’t be disrupted

By Sheain Fernandopulle 

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Central Committee yesterday decided to launch an islandwide trade union action from 8.00 am today over seven demands, its Assistant Secretary Dr. Samantha Ananda said.

 The seven  points considered by them in the launch of this trade union are  publishing annual transfer list of specialist grade medical officers (consultants) without transfer board concurrence,  publishing  post-intern placement list without concurrence of Grade Medical Officers’ Transfer Board, failure to declare effective date of annual transfers as per Establishment Code and publish accordingly to rectified annual transfer list, failure to implement the Cabinet decision with regard to rectifying the ad-hoc amendments made to Medical Service Minute during the time of Dr. Rajitha Senaratne as the Health Minister, failure to gazette SLMC election regulation and take steps to hold election without further delay, failure to rectify salary anomalies created in violation of National Wage Policy, failure to revise and provide due privileges of doctors and increasing the salaries of specific categories of Health Ministry employees by communications  using the letterhead of the Ministry without due procedure and thereby creating conflict among  the categories.

“However, emergency services at all hospitals would not be disrupted during the time of the strike while the strike would not affect the functions at maternity hospitals, children’s hospitals, Cancer Hospital, Maharagama and Kidney treatments,” Dr. Ananda said.

“There won’t be any disruption to health services related to COVID-19 including vaccination and treatment,” he added.

The GMOA yesterday launched a 24-hour token strike in five districts to protest against the Secretary to the Ministry over granting post-internship appointments. 

• There won’t be any disruption to health services related to COVID-19 including vaccination and treatment