The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced protests at major hospitals across Sri Lanka over the coming days, over pay, staff shortages and what it calls repressive laws.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the GMOA said the action is meant to draw attention to unresolved problems facing doctors and the country’s free healthcare system. It did not give dates or locations for the protests.
The association said doctors and other healthcare workers made sacrifices during the economic crisis, including giving up one-third of their additional duty and holiday allowances to support economic measures introduced by successive governments. It said that, despite government statements about economic recovery, adequate steps have not been taken to address the grievances of healthcare professionals.
The GMOA said it has repeatedly asked to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and the Minister of Health, including to discuss its proposals for the 2027 Budget. It alleged that it has received no positive response from the authorities so far.
According to the association, the protests will demand the restoration of the reduced allowances, salaries that reflect the services healthcare workers provide, and adequate facilities to carry out their duties. It will also call for urgent recruitment of doctors and other health personnel to fill staff shortages, an uninterrupted supply of medicines and improved hospital infrastructure.
The GMOA said the protests are also intended to press the government into talks and to take steps to resolve the issues.
Background
The GMOA is the trade union that represents doctors employed in the state health service. It has taken trade union action on pay, allowances and working conditions on several occasions in the past, and such action has at times affected services at state hospitals.
Government hospitals provide most of their services free of charge, and a large share of patients in Sri Lanka depend on them. The economic crisis that began in 2022 placed pressure on public spending, including on health, and the association says healthcare workers accepted cuts to their allowances as part of the response.
The GMOA has said it submitted proposals for the 2027 Budget aimed at the concerns of doctors and other healthcare workers.
What it means
The GMOA has not said what form the hospital protests will take, so it is not yet clear whether routine clinics and other services will be affected. Patients planning to visit a state hospital may wish to check with the hospital concerned for any changes.
The association’s demands on staffing and medicine supply relate to the day-to-day running of state hospitals, which is why any agreement reached with the government would be of direct interest to patients as well as to doctors.
