The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced that it will intensify its ongoing trade union action from 8.00 a.m. today (February 2).
The Association said the intensified action will include a range of measures across the hospital system. These include refraining from prescribing or issuing prescriptions for medicines, medical equipment and laboratory tests that are not available in hospitals, as well as withdrawing from voluntary participation in health camps and clinics organized by political groups.
The GMOA also stated that doctors will not be assigned to newly opened hospital wards and units that do not have the approved number of medical officers. In addition, doctors will withdraw from examining patients in situations where adequate facilities and support staff are not available to ensure patient safety and privacy.
Under the intensified action, specialist doctors will provide specialist services only at the hospitals to which they are officially assigned and will no longer cover duties at other institutions that lack specialist doctors.
The ongoing industrial action, which affects the entire hospital system, began on January 26 based on several demands made by the Association. The GMOA’s Central Committee, which met on the same day, had granted the Minister of Health 48 hours to present positive solutions to the issues raised.
However, the Association said the Ministry of Health failed to offer satisfactory solutions, prompting the decision to escalate the trade union action. An emergency meeting of the GMOA Executive Council was held on January 31, during which it was decided to continue and intensify the strike from today onwards.
