GMOA Strike Continues for Second Day - Patients Face Severe Inconvenience

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The strike launched by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) over a series of demands continues today for the second consecutive day.

The 48-hour trade union action began yesterday, causing serious inconvenience to patients who arrived at hospitals seeking treatment.

The GMOA says the strike is based on several key demands, including:
– The establishment of a special service category called the Sri Lanka Medical Service
– Updating the DAT allowance related to transportation
– Resolving transport issues in line with Circular 22/99
– Converting the additional duty allowance into a fixed allowance
– Addressing problems related to the research allowance

However, the GMOA has stated that the strike will not affect children’s hospitals, maternity hospitals, cancer treatment units, kidney treatment units, tri-service hospitals, or the National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda.

Meanwhile, the Specialist Doctors’ Association has announced that it will not support the strike.

GMOA Spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said the action was taken after repeated requests were ignored. 

Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, responding to the situation, said he regretted that a mature trade union had taken what he described as a premature decision.