GMOA announces series of island-wide professional actions

Colombo, Feb. 27 (Daily Mirror) - The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) has decided to launch a series of island-wide professional actions, alleging that the government has failed to honour written agreements aimed at resolving longstanding issues affecting doctors and the public health system.

Issuing a statement, the GMOA said that although strengthening the country’s free health service and addressing systemic shortcomings in hospitals should be a priority for any administration, the current government appears to be evading that responsibility.

The association noted that despite granting sufficient time for discussions with the Minister of Health and other relevant authorities, no meaningful or constructive steps have been taken to resolve their concerns.

Among the key demands put forward by the GMOA are:

• Securing Cabinet approval for a proposal to establish a special service category titled the “Sri Lanka Medical Service,” incorporating doctors of all categories.
• Updating the Disturbance, Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance.
• Addressing transportation issues in line with Circular 22/99.
• Converting the additional duty allowance into a fixed allowance.
• Resolving issues related to research allowances.
• Addressing concerns of doctors engaged in postgraduate studies.
• Updating the approved cadre of doctors within the health system.
• Initiating time-bound discussions with the Ministry of Finance to resolve the above matters.

The GMOA stated that seven consecutive island-wide trade union actions have already been announced and are being implemented, citing what it described as the authorities’ failure to provide satisfactory solutions through dialogue.