• Claims 200 hospitals are at risk of closure due to failures in effective transfer of personnel
• Emergency services, maternity and childcare, cancer institutions to continue working without disruptions

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) is to launch an islandwide strike today (25) in protest of what they described as the Ministry of Health’s apathy in addressing critical issues affecting the country’s health sector.

The strike is set to begin at 8 a.m. in Government hospitals across the country, excluding emergency treatment services, all maternity hospitals – including the Castle Street Hospital for Women, De Soysa Maternity Hospital for Women, Mahamodara Teaching Hospital, and Kethumathi Maternity Hospital – children’s hospitals such as Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialised Children’s Hospital in Peradeniya, the National Cancer Institute (Apeksha Hospital) in Maharagama, all specialised kidney treatment units, armed forces hospitals, and the National Institute of Mental Health.

Speaking to the media yesterday (24), GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Hansamal Weerasuriya said that nearly 200 hospitals are at risk of closure due to the Health Ministry’s failure to properly transfer and assign medical officers (MOs) to remote areas, irregular and non-transparent administrative processes, and resulting staff shortages in key units. He added that patients are currently being forced to purchase pharmaceutical drugs, and authorities have failed to provide hospitals with quality medicines and essential equipment.

“This strike is not aimed at demanding higher salaries, improved facilities, or allowances for medical officers. This is solely to protect the health service and prevent the collapse of free healthcare in Sri Lanka. We have had several rounds of discussions with the Minister of Health (Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa). Although he had issued instructions to officials to resolve the problems, there has been no proper response, no positive intervention, and no action to prevent the crisis. Health Ministry officials have totally neglected the risk of hospital closures, the shortage of MOs, and the disruption of essential units,” he said.

Attempts to contact Dr. Jayatissa and Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni proved futile.