Healthcare gazetted as essential service as trade union action continues

A special gazette notification has been published declaring the provision of healthcare as an essential public service.

Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake issued the communiqué on Tuesday (Feb.13), on the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The communiqué was published in accordance with the powers vested in the President under Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act No. 61 of 1979.

It reads that “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 institution” are considered essential to the life of the community.