The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) will make a final decision on the trade union actions regarding the issues in the health sector following a possible discussion with the President and Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe this week, it is learnt.
It was reported that Government and Opposition Parliamentarians who are doctors by profession, during a recent discussion, have agreed to intervene in initiating a dialogue and programme which involve the President, the GMOA, and themselves, to find solutions to the prevailing issues in the country’s health sector.
Since one of the attendees of the said discussion, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana was appointed as the Minister of Health, The Daily Morning queried the GMOA’s Media Spokesperson, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe as to whether they had been given any appointment to meet the President. In response, he said: “It was Dr. Pathirana who took the responsibility to coordinate a meeting between us and the President. However, as he is the Health Minister now, there may be some concerns, and another MP has therefore agreed to coordinate the meeting. We are hopeful that a meeting will be given within the course of this week.”
Commenting on their plans to launch trade union actions demanding the Government to resolve the issues that have arisen in the health sector, he said that they would make a final decision on the matter after having a meeting with President Wickremesinghe. “We will wait until an appointment is given to us, but we cannot wait for so long either. We have given sufficient time for the Government to address these issues. Therefore, if they cannot immediately intervene and solve these issues, these issues will further increase.”
The relevant meeting had been held following an invitation made by the group of MPs including Government MPs, Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, State Minister of Health Dr. Seetha Arambepola, Dr. Thilak Rajapakshe, and Dr. Upul Galappaththi, and Opposition MPs, former Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne, Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Prof. Channa Jayasumana, Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, to the GMOA.
Shortages of many types of drugs and medical supplies emerged in the country in the recent past. While the situation was subsiding to some extent with the support of international organisations, the country saw the import of substandard drugs, and the relevant authorities have been accused of not having acted to prevent such. In addition, the issue of medical professionals leaving the country has resulted in severe shortages of staff at Government hospitals.