The doctors strike: A symptom of a much larger problem

doctors claim they are being illegally transferred, ignoring rules and regulations which govern such moves. They charge the Health Ministry has without any consultation, reduced the number of ‘difficult stations’. In simple language, they are protesting not only a loss of income they face in difficult areas, but the loss of security at their work stations

Since the end of March, doctors in our country have been involved in trade union action. Doctors launched a nationwide token strike on March 31. The trade union action has continued into April. According to the doctors, they are protesting alleged illegal transfers, reduced ‘difficult service’ stations, and political interference in the Health Ministry. 

While essential services in hospitals have been maintained day-to-day functions, services such as those at the Out Patients Department (OPD) have been disrupted. While theoretically one can sympathise with the good doctors, for like all other workers and peasants in the country, doctors too are also faced with a rapidly rising cost of living. Unfortunately wages have not kept pace with this rapidly changing scenario.

Additionally, doctors claim they are being illegally transferred, ignoring rules and regulations which govern such moves. They charge the Health Ministry has without any consultation, reduced the number of ‘difficult stations’. In simple language, they are protesting not only a loss of income they face in difficult areas, but the loss of security at their work stations, and Government’s refusal to recompense the loss they suffer as a result.

Making matters worse, the Minister of Health rather than attempting to defuse the situation, has taken to threatening the doctors. The minister has threatened post-internship doctors who failed to apply for public service appointments before 12 noon on Saturday (4).  He stressed they would not be recruited into the public service and would lose their positions and salaries. He also described the strike as being politically motivated. 

He added, they would not be able to join the government service in the future and present work places would end, with salaries stopped.  The minister is beginning to sound very much like former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa threatening dire consequences to all who dare oppose him.

The minister seems only ready to confront rather than compromise. He also seems to have forgotten that large numbers of doctors have fled this country in search of greener pastures abroad. He seems unaware the health services are at breaking point due to a critical shortage of medical doctors, especially in rural areas.

GMOA (Government Medical Officers’ Association) statistics show large numbers of doctors have left Sri Lanka for foreign employment, with estimates ranging from 1,489 to over 2,500 between 2022 and early 2025. According to the GMOA, poor pay, high taxes, shortage of medicine, equipment, and lack of opportunities for career advancement are the main reasons behind the exodus of doctors from the country.

Doctors receive a higher income than large sections of the Lankan community. But, as stressed earlier in this column, wages have not kept pace with rising costs of living. According to UNICEF nearly quarter of our children suffer from malnutrition. Not surprising, when the monthly wage of an average citizen varies between Rs. 30,000 to 50,000 per month, while the cost for a family of four (father, mother and two children) to have two basic meals a day for a month costs over Rs. 100,000!

This sum does not include costs for children’s education, clothing, transport, medical costs or entertainment. Rather than trying to use a sledge hammer to settle disputes, the minister would be better advised to engage not only in discussions with aggrieved sections of the population, but to implement the outcome of the said discussion. Doctors are at the upper end of the social structure. If they are finding it difficult to make ends meet and are engaging in trade union action, those at the bottom are finding it even more difficult. These people depend on free medical services. They cannot afford the costs of private medical attention. 

To them treatment at government hospitals is essential. If unavailable they have little option but to lie down and die. While recognising that this Government inherited the debt-ridden situation of our country, the people voted for them in large numbers to solve these problems. We do not need ministers making threats to workers demanding solutions to the problems.