medical professionals to launch strike

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

All supplementary medical professionals attached to 31 hospitals under the Western Province have decided to launch trade union action from tomorrow (19). The decision was announced yesterday (17) by the Joint Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine, citing strong opposition to the “Transfer Orders 2024,” which the Provincial Director of Health Services has instructed to implement despite serious irregularities and widespread objections.   
Reports indicate that the transfer orders are scheduled to be issued today (18).   
The Council noted that although discussions have been ongoing with relevant officials in the Western Province for over a year, no responsible authority has taken steps to resolve the matter.   
“If the transfer orders are enforced, it will become impossible to continue 24-hour hospital operations, severely affecting both staff and patients, the Joint Council warned,” a council representative said.   
The strike will involve seven categories of supplementary medical professionals, including radiographers, medical laboratory technologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, and pharmacists.   
As a result, essential services such as X-rays, CT scans, laboratory tests, physiotherapy, and other related services are expected to be disrupted.