GMOA announces strike by Sabaragamuwa docs

All doctors attached to government hospitals in the Sabaragamuwa province will go on strike from September 19, demanding the immediate intervention of the Health Ministry to effect the due transfers of Health Services Directors of the North-Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces, the Government Medical Officers' Association announced on Monday.

Addressing a news briefing at its headquarters, President of the GMOA Dr Anuruddha Padeniya said that if the Health Ministry failed to give a proper reply by September 19, they would get doctors serving in the North-Central, Uva and Central Provinces to join the strike in stages. The Executive Committee of the GMOA would meet on that date to decide on the matter.

He said that the North Central Province was without a regional Health Services Director for several months since the Central Province Director, who was transferred there by the Public Service Commission, refused to accept it and challenged it in the Supreme Court. Because of that case pending in the Supreme Court the appointment of new directors to two provinces was held in abeyance. Therefore, the necessity for the Health Ministry to intervene and effect the relevant transfers.

In the past, the GMOA President said, the Health Ministry had intervened in such instances, but now it was playing a hands off role.

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