GMOA Trade Union Action Intensifies: Doctors Withdraw from Specialist Cover Duties

COLOMBO (News 1st): The trade union action initiated by the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) continues today, with a significant escalation in their protest measures starting from 8:00 AM yesterday.

Accordingly, in addition to the five standing trade union measures already in place, government doctors have now also withdrawn from specialist medical cover duties since yesterday.

As part of the action:

Doctors will stop issuing prescriptions/notes for patients to purchase medicines or equipment from private pharmacies that are unavailable in the state hospital.

Doctors will stop recommending or issuing notes for patients to undergo laboratory tests at private facilities when those tests are unavailable in state hospitals.

Withdrawal from voluntary participation in health camps and clinics organized by political groups.

Refusal to assign doctors to newly opened hospital wards or units that do not have the officially approved cadre of medical staff.

Refusal to examine patients in environments that lack adequate facilities or support staff necessary to ensure patient safety and privacy.

The GMOA said these measures are part of the trade union action launched last week.

In addition, from 8.00 a.m. yesterday, specialist doctors have also withdrawn from providing cover to hospitals that do not have resident specialists, by staying away from duties outside the hospitals to which they are officially attached.