The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) strike has entered its third consecutive day, with a 24-hour token action running from 8 a.m. on April 5 to 8 a.m. on April 6. The government has hardened its position, with the Health Minister declaring the strike “baseless” and ruling out further negotiations.
Routine and outpatient services at government hospitals continue to face disruptions, though emergency treatment services remain operational. The GMOA said its executive committee would “review the situation daily and decide on further action based on developments.”
The Health Minister sought to frame the dispute in fiscal terms, stating that over Rs. 6 million of public tax money is spent training each doctor — a figure intended to underscore the government’s position that publicly trained doctors have obligations to the system.
The strike, launched over the appointment system for government medical officers, has escalated despite a split within the medical community. The Academy of Medical Specialists (AMS) broke ranks with the GMOA earlier this week, and the Health Ministry reported that 96 percent of eligible doctors had applied for post-intern appointments through the government’s system.
The standoff comes at a particularly difficult time for Sri Lanka’s public health system. With the country facing an energy crisis that has led to power cuts, hospitals are operating under additional strain. Disruptions to outpatient services disproportionately affect lower-income patients who depend on the public healthcare system.
The GMOA has not indicated whether it plans to escalate or wind down its action. The government appears to be banking on the AMS split and the 96 percent compliance figure to wait out the walkout.
