The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to intensify its ongoing continuous trade union action from February 2 (Monday), citing the failure of relevant authorities to respond satisfactorily to several key demands.
The GMOA initially launched a continuous trade union action across the entire government hospital system on January 26, based on a series of issues raised with the government.
At a meeting held on the same day, the Central Committee of the GMOA decided to grant the Minister of Health a 48-hour ultimatum to make a decision and announce positive solutions to the issues highlighted.
However, the association said that the Ministry of Health has since failed to provide acceptable responses. In view of this, the GMOA has decided to further intensify its trade union action and continue the strike from February 2.
Accordingly, an emergency meeting of the GMOA Executive Committee was held this morning (January 31), at which the decision to proceed with the intensified measures was formally confirmed.
The GMOA announced that the following actions will come into effect from 8.00 a.m. on February 2:
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Suspension of issuing prescriptions and recommendations for patients to obtain medicines and medical equipment from external sources when such items are unavailable within hospitals.
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Suspension of issuing recommendations for patients to undergo laboratory tests externally when such facilities are unavailable within hospitals.
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Withdrawal from voluntary participation in health camps and clinics organized by political groups.
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Suspension of assigning doctors to newly opened hospital wards and units that do not have the officially approved number of medical officers.
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Withdrawal from examining patients in situations where adequate facilities and support staff are not available to ensure patient safety and privacy.
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Restriction of specialist services only to the hospitals to which specialists are officially attached, and withdrawal from covering duties at other hospitals lacking specialist doctors.
