The strike launched by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) continued today (5), with the union pressing ahead with trade union action over several demands, including what it alleges is the politicisation of the doctors’ transfer process.

The GMOA said the strike would be in effect from 8 a.m. today across hospitals islandwide.

However, GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa said the strike would not affect maternity hospitals, children’s hospitals, the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital, specialised kidney units, tri-forces hospitals, and the National Institute of Mental Health.

He also said the union’s executive committee is due to meet today to decide on the next course of action.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry announced that 96% of doctors who recently completed their internships had applied for appointments under the post-intern medical officer recruitment process.

According to the ministry, applications for post-intern doctor appointments closed at 12 noon on 4 April, as previously scheduled. Of the 453 doctors who completed their internship training this time, 435 had successfully applied for appointments.

The ministry said the process of attaching these medical officers to hospitals and health institutions would be carried out based on the manner in which they had applied and in accordance with the merit list.

It added that the placements would be made under a transparent and scientific methodology, with the aim of addressing doctor shortages across the island.

The Health Ministry further said that details of the selected applicants, including the institutions to which they are assigned and the date on which they are required to report for duty, would be announced shortly.