brand logo

Covid booster drive: Government to consider options if TU action persists

13 Feb 2022

  • Electricity and healthcare declared essential services
By Asiri Fernando The Government is looking at all available options to ensure an uninterrupted vaccination drive if the ongoing health sector trade union (TU) action persists, The Sunday Morning learns. When asked if the ongoing health sector TU action was affecting the vaccination process, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella claimed that it had not had any significant impact on the drive up to date. “There is some effect from the strikes, however it has not hindered the process at large. We are looking at using all available options to aid the vaccination process, if the strikes continue. We are confident that the issue will be settled soon as many in the health sector understand that this strike at this period of time is unfair,” Rambukwella said, urging health unions to understand the importance of not disrupting the health system at a time the country was trying to contain Covid-19 and the Omicron variant.   Several health unions had launched trade union action last week charging that salary discrepancies in the sector were adversely affecting them. Several rounds of discussions between the unions and authorities have taken place. The last week has seen a rise in public demand for the Covid-19 third dose (booster), with many flocking to vaccination centres to get the Pfizer-BioNTech dose, Minister Rambukwella said. The uptick in public demand for the booster dose comes amid better awareness about its necessity and the rise of the Omicron variant, quelling misinformation that had caused vaccine hesitancy in some communities. “There is a significant rise in the number of people who are turning up at vaccination centres to get the booster dose. The Government is happy with the trend. Vaccination is the way forward to mitigate the impact of the pandemic,” Minister Rambukwella said. The Government also gazetted the supply of electricity and healthcare as essential services on Friday (11). According to Minister Rambukwella the decision was taken to ensure the uninterrupted service of the public health system. “All service, work or labour, of any description whatsoever, necessary or required to be done in connection with the maintenance, and the reception, care feeding, and treatment, of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries, and other similar institutions,” Gazette No. 2266/55 of 11 February stated, in making the health services an essential service.  Following the release of the Gazette, the Government Nursing Officers’ Association (GNOA) temporarily called off their strike. However, other unions will continue their strike, GNOA President Saman Rathnapriya said.  


More News..