(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has decided to launch trade union action centered around hospitals in the North Western province today (27th Monday), in protest of the Malabe South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM).
Accordingly trade union action will be carried out from 8am to 12 noon.
Speaking to a prominent online news portal in the isle, the Central Committee member of the GMOA Dr. Haritha Aluthge said following the 4 hour strike, officers will convene to discuss further action.
Dr. Aluthge said the Government Medical Officers Association will launch trade Union action, in a manner which will have the least impact on patients, in the North-Western Province, today from 8am to 12 noon.
Accordingly he said hospitals in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts will only conduct emergency services and as such Doctors will boycott all other services.
He noted at noon branch unions in the two districts will convene and according to decisions reached at the meeting, union action could be extended for 24 hours until tomorrow.
Dr. Haritha Aluthge also commented on the GMOA’s recommendations handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena on SAITM.
Aluthge said the GMOA recently advised the President and government officials regarding the issue of Doctors graduating from the controversial SAITM institute and thereby being a threat to the healthcare system in future.
However he said the GMOA regrets to say a satisfactory response on the matter has not been received thus far.