Court prevents GMOA strike action

The District Judge of Colombo, G.A.D Ganepola issued an Enjoining Order and notice of Interim Injunction preventing the Government Medical Officers Association from engaging in trade union action in the form of a strike, causing disruption in public health care.

The application for the said Enjoining Order was supported by Senior Counsel Faiszer Musthapha appearing with Farman Cassim, Isuru Balapatabendi, Tharaka Nanayakkara, Kalana Jayasuriya, Navoda Wijeratne and J. Gunapala instructed by Sanjeewa Kaluarachchi. The Plaintiff in this Case was an aggrieved patient warded at the General Hospital of Colombo.

Musthapha submitted to Court that, the aggrieved patient had a contract with the State for the provision of health care which the G.M.O.A had no right to interfere with. It was further submitted that, the Government Medical Officers were duty bound to provide uninterrupted medical care to the Plaintiff and to the public at large since the Guidelines on Ethical Conduct for Medical Practitioners registered in Sri Lanka provides that doctors should not at any time exploit their patients.

The Government Medical Officers are at large fully sponsored in their education by public funds, which are raised in turn through the taxes imposed on the general public and thus it is their duty and obligation to provide uninterrupted medical assistance to the people, said Musthapha.

Court fixed this matter to be called on 25 May and the aforesaid Enjoining Order shall remain effective till then.