The main Parliamentary Opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has denounced the Government Medical Officers’ Association’s (GMOA) move to withdraw from very important person (VI)P medical treatment services, a decision made by the GMOA in demand of immediate solutions for health sector problems.

On Wednesday (25), the GMOA announced their decision to withdraw from all special services provided by doctors apart from what they are required to do at work. The GMOA said that this decision was taken to send a message to the ruling elite regarding the issues in the health sector.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (26), SJB General Secretary and Parliamentarian Ranjith Maddumabandara said that the SJB is not ready to welcome this particular decision by the GMOA as medical treatment should not be denied based on status or position. However, Maddumabandara also said that they were unaware of VIP medical treatment services. 

He further said that while they accept the need for trade union actions to convince the Government to achieve their demands, those actions, however, should not cause inconvenience to the general public, especially when it comes to the services provided by the health sector. He added that MPs or other politicians have not requested or are supposed to be given any special service on account of their political status as they should also be treated as ordinary people. Therefore, he said that the SJB would not accept this move as it is the responsibility of doctors to provide services when they are needed regardless of who the patient is.

The GMOA had previously launched a programme to provide services, including emergency ambulance service, for VIPs such as the President, the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, and MPs in case of need. They also announced their withdrawal from all services provided on special occasions from the beginning of next month (November).

Several attempts made by The Daily Morning to contact GMOA Spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe proved futile.