GMOA threatens strike if Dr. Padeniya’s file not returned

September 29, 2011, 9:12 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Government Medical Officers’ Association yesterday threatened to launch an island wide strike from Tuesday (04) if the authorities fail to return its President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s personal file by 12.00 noon on Monday (03).

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Sankalpa Marasinghe told The Island that the decision had been taken when their general committee met on Thursday to decide the future course of action.

"We resorted to severe trade union action earlier, but no one harassed us," he said adding but this time their members were being harassed and intimidated when protesting against the Malabe Private Medical College (PMC).

The Bribery Commission had removed GMOA President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s personal file from the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Borella on Monday (26) claiming that they wanted to check on some leave he had taken to do his higher studies overseas.

If a medical officer does wrong, it should be inquired into by the Health Ministry’s separate division, not by the Bribery Commission, Dr. Marasinghe said.

He said that this is a very cheap way to handle an inquiry against a government officer.

"Not only Dr. Padeniya, most of our members received threats after we protested against the PMC, but we will not give up our effort to stop it," Dr. Marasinghe said.

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.

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 that a committee woild be appointed to investigate the standards of the PMC.