A press release issued by the Government Medical Officers Association is available here
Press release
Continued series of trade union actions announced due to the failure to implement the agreements given by the Minister of Health to resolve the problems of the free health service and doctors
Following a series of trade union actions taken by the Government Medical Officers Association demanding solutions to the real problems of the Sri Lankan health service and doctors, the Minister of Health gave written agreements.
The written agreements are,
- To obtain approval for the cabinet paper drafted with the participation and agreement of all parties to create a special service category called “Sri Lanka Medical Service” by including doctors of all categories and to take further action.
- Updating the DAT allowance of doctors
- Resolving transportation issues in accordance with Circular 22/99
- Converting the additional duty allowance into a fixed allowance
- Resolving the issues of research allowance
- Resolving the issues of doctors engaged in postgraduate studies
- Updating the number of approved doctors in the health system.
- To initiate discussions with the Ministry of Finance from 2026.01.05 to resolve the above issues with a time frame
In the backdrop of the continuous violation of the agreements given in writing by the Minister of Health, it was decided to give the Minister of Health and the Ministry of Health a period of 10 days to implement the agreements and resolve the issues as per the decisions of the Emergency Central Committee Meeting of the Government Medical Officers’ Association held on 2026.01.07 and the Executive Council Meeting of the Government Medical Officers’ Association held on 2026.01.13.
If that is not the case, the Executive Committee unanimously decided to initiate island-wide continuous industrial action starting from 2026.01.23.
Accordingly, a 48-hour island-wide symbolic strike was initiated from 08.00 on 23.01.2026 and ended at 08.00 today as announced.
Despite the obstacles posed by various internal and external parties, the strike was implemented very successfully throughout the entire hospital system.
If any inconvenience was caused to the people due to the strike, the government, the Minister of Health and the Ministry of Health, who have violated the agreements and neglected their responsibility to protect free healthcare, should take full responsibility for it.
Instead of making at least a minimal effort in good faith to resolve the problems, the government and parties associated with the government respond to doctors with mudslinging and slander, which shows that the Minister of Health or those responsible have no real interest in securing the future of free healthcare.
In the face of this irresponsible behavior, the free health service will ultimately collapse and people’s lives will be put at risk.
The current trends and the irresponsible actions of the relevant responsible parties, including the Minister of Health, were discussed at length at the Executive Council meeting of the Government Medical Officers’ Association held today, and the following decisions were reached.
- Suspending the issuance of prescriptions to patients for obtaining medicines and equipment that are not available in the hospital.
- Suspending the issuance of prescriptions to patients for obtaining laboratory tests that are not available in the hospital.
- Withdrawing from voluntary participation in health camps and clinics organized by political groups.
- Suspending the assignment of doctors to new hospital wards and units opened within the hospital system without the approved number of doctors.
- Refusing to examine patients without adequate facilities and support staff to protect the safety and privacy of patients.
Also, branch meetings of the Government Medical Officers’ Association are scheduled to be held in all hospitals in the country at 08.00 tomorrow morning, and the indifferent behavior of the government and the Ministry of Health regarding the current situation and demands, as well as future professional actions are scheduled to be discussed there.
A crucial meeting of the Central Committee of the Government Medical Officers’ Association is scheduled to be held on 28. 01. 2026 to discuss the decisions taken there and the current trends, and to decide on future professional actions. Thereafter, future actions and plans will be announced to the country.
The Executive Council is ready to discuss with the President and the Minister of Health at any time to resolve the issues while doing justice to the health service and doctors, and is also ready to consider professional action if positive and credible solutions are found.
We would like to emphasize that if the government, the Minister of Health and the Ministry of Health continue to try to evade the responsibility of ensuring free healthcare by avoiding solving the problems, the Government Medical Officers’ Association will not hesitate to take any necessary action to ensure free healthcare by bringing all parties together.