Patients caught in crossfire as GMOA strike enters 12th day

Colombo, Feb. 21 (Daily Mirror) - The ongoing trade union action launched by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) entered its 12th day today, with the union claiming that the Health Ministry has still failed to provide concrete solutions to the issues raised.

The GMOA, from time to time, decided to intensify its action, a move that is increasingly affecting hospital services and causing mounting inconvenience to patients who depend on the state health sector for treatment, medicines and medical advice.

From Wednesday (18), regional health officials abstained from submitting crucial data to the Health Ministry’s central database, a system considered vital for the coordination and smooth functioning of the national health sector.

GMOA Secretary Dr Prabath Sugathadasa told the Daily Mirror that the decision to withhold essential health data is part of a broader strategy to escalate pressure on authorities over what the union describes as the Ministry’s continued inaction.

Although the trade union action has not escalated into a complete strike, the impact on services is being increasingly felt, particularly at outpatient departments where thousands of patients are reporting delays and difficulty in accessing routine care.

As part of the latest escalation, specialist doctors have also decided to refrain from providing cover for other hospitals, a move that could further strain already stretched services in several institutions.

The GMOA maintains that its actions are aimed at forcing urgent engagement from the Health Ministry, while health sector observers warn that prolonged disruptions risk placing additional stress on an already burdened public health system and leaving ordinary patients to bear the brunt of the standoff.