Angry docs to strike over govt targeting Dr.Padeniya

October 2, 2011, 10:06 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) members are likely to strike tomorrow (Sept.4) even if its President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s personal file taken from the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Borella is returned today.

This was hinted when

an irate GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Upul Gunasekera said yesterday that the government wouldn’t be allowed to get away with the ongoing media blitz targeting the doctors. The government had been harassing GMOA members due to their criticism of Malabe Private Medical College (PMC), he claimed.

Earlier the GMOA said that it wouldn’t resort to trade union action if the file was sent back to the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Borella, where Dr. Padeniya is based, before 12.00 noon today.

The Bribery Commission removed Dr. Padeniya’s personal file from the LRH on Sept. 26 to check leave taken by him to go abroad for higher studies.

The GOMA executive committee would meet today at 11.00 am to decide on trade union action, Dr. Gunasekera said.

Health Minister Maithreepala Sirisena assured that Dr. Padeniya’s personal file was safe at the health ministry.

The SLFP General Secretary dismissed allegations that it had been taken away by the Bribery Commission. According to him, the file remained with the official handling personal files at the ministry.