Health Minister challenges GMOA over baseless strike

Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has criticized the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) for their strike against the appointment process for doctors who have completed their internships, saying it lacks any valid reasons for discussion. He emphasized that if the GMOA has issues with the system, they should take legal action rather than impacting patients. Speaking today (04), Minister Jayatissa remarked that if the strike had legitimate grounds, it could be open for dialogue, but he insists this strike is unfounded and does not allow for negotiation. He stated, “If you are opposing me over a personal issue, it is better to keep the public out of it and not endanger patients' lives. If you believe that the internship appointments are illegal, then you should take me to court. This way, we can present our sides and resolve the matter.” The Minister also called for conflicts with the government to be addressed privately, without involving the public. Additionally, the deadline for intern doctors to apply for public service was set for noon today (04), and the Health Minister reiterated that this deadline would not be extended. He warned that failing to submit applications on time would lead to the end of state hospital services and salaries.