Health Minister challenges GMOA over ‘baseless’ strike

The strike launched by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) against the appointment system for doctors who have completed their internship lacks any basis for discussion, the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa has stated.

The Health Minister said that if there are concerns regarding the system, the GMOA should resolve the issue through the courts instead of taking patients’ lives hostage.

Expressing his views today (04) on the trade union action, Minister Jayatissa stated that if the strike were based on legitimate grounds, it could be discussed, however, this particular strike is baseless and leaves no room for talks.

The Health Minister further commented:

“If you are challenging me based on an issue with me, the best thing to do is remove the public from this without taking the lives of patients’ hostage.

“If you say that granting internship appointments is illegal, the best thing to do is go to court against me. Then I will be on one side, and your group on the other. Then this issue can be resolved,” he said.

The Minister also urged that disputes with the government should not be taken to the public.

Meanwhile, the deadline for intern doctors to apply for public service was set for noon today (04), and the Health Minister reiterated that it would not be extended.

Accordingly, he warned that failure to submit applications on time would result in the cessation of state hospital service and salaries.