Archives

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) last evening decided to suspend their trade union action following an assurance given by the Secretary of the Interior Ministry that all suspects involved in the assault on the National Hospital doctor will be arrested and brought to book.

"We decided to suspend the strike right now, on the assurance given by the Interior Ministry regarding our main demand", a GMOA spokesman told the Daily News last evening.

He said the GMOA was satisfied with the response extended to their other demands too.

Yesterday morning, the Executive Committee of the GMOA decided to seek a written assurance from the Ministry of Interior through the Health Ministry that prompt action will be taken to arrest the prime suspect involved in this incident.

With the GMOA's decision to suspend the strike, steps were taken to swiftly commence the normal health services at the Colombo National Hospital by yesterday evening. "Emergency services both at the Accident Service and the OPD just resumed", Deputy Director of the CNH Dr. Anil Jasinghe told the Daily News last evening.

The strike was launched after a doctor at the accident service of the CNH premises was assaulted by an organised gang on New Year's day.

However, thousands of patients were affected due to the strike which lasted for four days and later spread to several other key hospitals in Colombo.

The GMOA claims that unauthorised structures in the vicinity of the hospital were housing the thugs involved in the attack on the doctor and urged the authorities to take swift action to remove them.

However, CNH Director Dr. Hector Weerasinghe told the Daily News on Wednesday that security in the hospital has been tightened by increasing the number of Police officers, other security officers and setting up additional security posts.

He noted that measures will be taken to install surveillance cameras with recording facilities inside the hospital.



News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager