Massive health strike to cripple Sri Lanka’s healthcare

• GMOA denounces health workers’ strike   
• Health Ministry invites TUs for discussion   
• Nurses’ Union refrains from taking part in strike
• Despite the government meeting half of the demands, the protesting health workers continue to push for higher salaries   

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

The strike action scheduled to be held today by the health workers is pegged to hamper the health sector and cause inconvenience to the general public.   
According to the trade unions representing the health sector, non-doctor employees have decided to conduct an island-wide strike today (16) starting from 8.00 am.   
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.   
Meanwhile, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has taken a firm stance against the island-wide strike organized by health sector employees, labeling it as unjustified.   
Dr. Haritha Aluthge, Secretary of the GMOA, asserted that 50% of the wage demands made by the protesting trade unions have already been fulfilled.   

Addressing the contentious issue of the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance for doctors, Dr. Aluthge revealed that only 15% of the requested increment has been received by doctors so far.   

He pointed out that despite the government meeting half of the demands, the protesting health workers continue to push for higher salaries.   

“Their demand was to increase the salaries of government employees by Rs. 20,000. They have received Rs. 10,000 so far. It means that 50% of their demands are completed,” stated Dr. Aluthge, emphasizing the progress made in meeting the union’s financial requests.   

Dr. Aluthge further criticized the protesting health workers, highlighting the majority’s position in the secondary and primary grades of government service, contrasting them with doctors in the senior grade.   

In contrast to the widespread strike, the All Ceylon Nurses’ Union has opted to refrain from participating in the strike action, choosing instead to conduct a demonstration in front of government hospitals during lunchtime on the scheduled strike day.   

Against this backdrop, the Health Ministry has invited the trade union leaders for a meeting to discuss their grievances at 12 noon today.   
In response to the meeting, the trade union representatives said although they have agreed to participate in the meeting, the strike will not be called off unless a satisfactory solution is granted.