GMOA summons hurried Exco meeting claiming harassment

September 27, 2011, 9:56 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA)has hurriedly summoned an executive committee meeting today (28) in Colombo to decide their future course of action claiming harassment of some of their members who are working actively against the Malabe Private Medical College.

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Sankalpa Marasinghe told The Island yesterday that their general committee which included representatives from countrywide government hospitals too meets tomorrow (29) to take immediate action against what he termed harassment of doctors.

"GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s personal file has already been removed from the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Borella," he said adding it happened on Monday as Dr. Padeniya actively worked against the Malabe PMC.

Issuing an extraordinary gazette notification numbered 1721 – 19 of Aug. 30, 2011, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake legalized the Malabe PMC and University Grants Commission (UGC) awarded the MBBS degree awarding status to it, which is similar to the government medical faculties, he said.

The GMOA officially launched their protest against the PMC a month ago by threatening a countrywide strike, but it was postponed due to the Ministry’s assurance on appointing a committee to investigate the standards of the PMC.

Dr. Marasinghe said that everyday their members are receiving threatening calls. Active members who work against the PMC are being followed by unidentified persons from last week.

He warned they would continue the protests despite all the threats and harassments.

"The Health Ministry appointed the committee recently to investigate the standards of the PMC as they promised to us," Dr. Marasinghe said adding that they will launch their future protests with the outcome of the committee’s findings.

Health Ministry spokesman, W. M. D. Wanninayake, when contacted by The Island for comment said that the ministry has appointed a five member committee to investigate the standards of the PMC.

He said that the ministry has also requested the PMC not to enroll students until the committee submits its report within two months.

"We will act according to the committee’s report," said Wanninayake.