• They would also stage protest campaigns in all hospitals after 12 noon today 
• The Government had stopped the Covid relief allowance from August 30

By Ajith Siriwardana   

The Health Service Trade Union Collective said yesterday they would launch a five-hour strike action from 7.00 am to 12 noon today in all Government Hospitals in the country as the Government had failed to resolve their issues.   

Government Nursing Officers’ Association (GNOA) President Saman Rathnapriya said over 100,000 health employees such as nurses, Paramedical Services, professions supplementary to medicine, drivers and junior staff will join the strike.   

He said they would also stage protest campaigns in all hospitals after 12 noon today and added that they staged a protest campaign on September 22 as well.   

He said Covid relief allowance of Rs. 7,500 was paid to them after heath trade unions compelled the Government to pay an allowance due to the difficulties faced by the health employees amidst the covid situation.   
Rathnapriya said, however, the Government had stopped the Covid relief allowance from August 30 even though the risk of the pandemic was not diminished.   

He said the Covid situation has not been reduced to a satisfactory level so far and added that 79 covid deaths and 1200 cases have been reported even on Saturday. A total of 12 health employees have died of the virus.