The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has begun a series of trade union actions from 8.00 a.m. today (17), citing several unresolved demands linked to the 2026 Budget presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
GMOA says the Budget has failed to address critical issues in the public health service, including long-standing concerns affecting medical professionals. According to the union, these shortcomings have left the health system in a vulnerable state, prompting the latest round of union action.
As part of the trade union measures, doctors at government hospitals islandwide will restrict several key services, including:
Issuing prescriptions for medicines that must be purchased from external pharmacies
Recommending diagnostic tests to be conducted at private or external laboratories
The GMOA states that these steps are intended to pressure authorities into taking immediate action to fix shortages of staff, equipment, and essential medicines.
The union has also warned that further escalation is possible if the government does not respond satisfactorily in the coming days.
