Strike cripples healthcare services

• Strike continues as talks fail  

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

The healthcare services across the country were hampered as health workers resorted to strike action from yesterday (1).  

The strike was initiated at 6:30 a.m. by at least 72 trade  unions within the health sector in protest of the government’s refusal  to grant Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance of Rs.  35,000 to the professionals.    

The trade union action unfolded across all government  hospitals, drawing attention to the concerns of supplementary medical  professionals who feel overlooked in the government’s recent  decision-making.   

 As such, patients within hospitals expressed their  distress, citing inconveniences resulting from the disruption in  healthcare services.   

Ravi Kumudesh, President of the Joint Council for  Professions of Supplementary Medicine, voiced strong opposition to the  Cabinet’s choice to abstain from increasing the DAT allowance for health  professionals.  

This upheaval comes in the wake of the Cabinet’s approval,  on Monday (Jan. 08), of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal to  double the DAT allowance for government doctors, increasing it from Rs.  35,000 to Rs. 70,000.   

Despite assurances from top government officials, including  pledges of dialogue upon the President’s return from official  international obligations, healthcare workers continue to feel  disheartened by the absence of meaningful involvement.   

Trade unions maintain that no concrete discussions have  occurred since the President’s return, intensifying the growing  dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals.   
Nevertheless, the All Ceylon Nurses’ Union, a significant  advocate in the healthcare sector, has chosen not to participate in the  strike.  

In response to the strike, the Sri Lanka Army deployed  troops at various government hospitals island-wide to support  operational activities.   

Hundreds of troops deployed to assist hospital operations amid strike

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Sri Lanka Army deployed hundreds of troops at various government hospitals island-wide to support operational activities in response to the strike launched in government hospitals by 72 health unions.  

The Ministry of Health requested assistance from the Ministry of Defence to ensure uninterrupted hospital operations during the strike.   

Accordingly, under the directives of the Commander of the Army Lt. General Vikum Liyanage, troops have been deployed to 26 government hospitals, including prominent ones such as the National Hospitals in Colombo and Kandy, Kalubowila, Karapitiya, Mahamodara, Peradeniya, Anuradhapura and Kurunegala Teaching Hospitals, as well as Matara, Balangoda, Eheliyagoda, Nawalapitiya, Badulla, Gampola, Mirigama, Homagama and Kegalle Hospitals.  

The Army said 700 personnel have been deployed to meet the operational needs of these hospitals. In addition, the Army Commander has instructed additional troops to be prepared for deployment in case of emergencies.