24 April 2020 03:17 pm
In a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said one of the reasons for delay in rapid testing for COVID-19 in the country was the Health authorities' failure to endorse the GMOA proposal though the political authorities did.
It said though GMOA proposed both Aggressive Testing and Test, Test, Test strategies on March 13, it was not adopted until April 19.
"This 3-week delay is simply due to the failure of the health authorities to neither endorse or adapt the proposal though the President and the political authorities did accept it. Instead it was counter attacked by Prof. Indika Carunathilake, Dr. Rukshan Bellana and Dr. Sudath Samaraweera.
Now, former Minister of Health, Dr Rajiha Senarathne, in a press conference severely criticised the numbers and delay in testing comparing with other countries, while confirming the sentiments expressed by the aforementioned personalities," the GMOA said.
"We wish to forward these facts for Your Excellency's information and necessary action.
The GMOA, as a responsible professional body, is always willing to positively contribute to control the COVID 19 pandemic in the national interest," it said.