The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) called a one-day island wide strike yesterday (30) to protest against several 2017 Budgetary proposals.
The GMOA brings out concerns relating to the new contributory pension scheme introduced by the government proposed taxation on the professionals, accepting aid from tobacco companies to fatten the President’s Fund, privatization of the health services and permitting foreigners to render their services in Sri Lanka.
A representative of the GMOA, Dr. Haritha Aluthge, said the union action was called island wide, excluding the children’s hospitals, maternity hospitals and cancer hospitals, treatment centres for kidneys, MOH offices and the military hospitals, till 8.a.m today (1).
They assured that emergency treatment centres would not be hampered. “There are five demands raised in the action. Today (1) the Executive Committee will be met to assess the status of the action and decide on further action. Next Tuesday (6 December) will be crucial as Joint Committee of Executive Officers in All Island Services is planning to meet to discuss the future course of action.
This joint committee comprises 18 unions. The government should provide a prompt solution to the concerns raised by the GMOA to prevent a drastic decision during Tuesday’s meeting. We would cease the union action as soon as the minister calls us up for a discussion.
Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said, “The officers of the GMOA have called off duty till 8:00 a.m. today (1), but all the Consultants in the government service have reported to duty as usual.”
Government Medical Officer’s Association (GMOA) is scheduled to hold the executive committee session today (31)morning to decide whether to participate…
