GMOA strike: worsens, patients in the lurch

• Trade union action significantly disrupts services

By Sheain Fernandopulle 

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to intensify the ongoing trade union action, leaving thousands of patients struggling to access healthcare. 

Although this is not a total stoppage of work, the trade union action has significantly disrupted services as patients are facing difficulties in obtaining treatment, medicines and medical advice, particularly at outpatient departments. 

Daily Mirror witnessed that the public, especially the elderly, children and low-income families, were returning home without receiving care after visiting hospitals. As a further measure, GMOA Secretary Dr Prabath Sugathadasa told Daily Mirror that specialist doctors will abstain from providing cover-ups for other hospitals. 

The GMOA had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to address its demands, which expired at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday (31). 

The current strike began on Monday (26), with doctors refusing to issue prescriptions for medicines not available at hospital outpatient departments, forcing patients to purchase them from private pharmacies.