By Chaturanga Samarawickrama 

Only three out of ten doctors who were officially appointed to the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry are making decisions on the spread of COVID-19, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya lamented. 

He said the Epidemiology Unit should issue the official data related to the COVID pandemic, but they do not seem to be doing their job until now. 

“Since decision-making was done by only three doctors, they have been exhausted and when complaints are received by them, they do not work with other doctors amicably. 

“There is an attitude with those three doctors that all the decisions regarding COVID pandemic should be taken by them. The GMOA had made a complaint to the President in this regard and had requested the President to impose travel restrictions for 14-days,” Dr. Padeniya said. 

But according to the President, the official decision of imposing travel restrictions should be made by the Epidemiology Unit. 

The GMOA pointed out that failure to submit this level of data by the Epidemiology Unit is a shortcoming from the Health Ministry, Dr. Padeniya added.

• The Epidemiology Unit should issue the official data related to the COVID pandemic, but they do not seem to be doing their job until now