The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has warned that hospitals across the country are at risk of closing down due to the acute shortage of doctors, the Health Ministry’s failure to manage transfers and placements, and its inability to resolve the ongoing drug shortage crisis.
GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa said that despite assurances given during a recent discussion with Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa to provide practical solutions to these issues, no meaningful progress has been made, which raises serious concerns.
He said that the shortage of essential medicines in every government hospital countrywide has severely impacted the healthcare system.
Particularly affected are patients suffering from serious and chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and kidney disorders, with long-term and life-saving medications now in dangerously short supply at state hospitals.
The GMOA highlighted several urgent demands: the immediate cancellation of the post-intern appointment list, rectification of irregular removals from the annual transfer list, resolution of issues regarding transfers to difficult service areas, and effective management of the drug shortage caused by the Health Ministry’s inefficiency, so that patients are not forced to buy medicines from outside.
If these problems are not addressed, the GMOA’s Central Committee has unanimously decided to launch a countrywide strike on 11 August at 8:00 a.m., Dr. Sugathadasa said.
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