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| Monday, 24 January 2005 |
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by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) go on an islandwide strike from tomorrow urging the Health Ministry to freeze the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and appoint a proper committee to look into the crisis created by the SLMC's decision to grant Medical Officer status to Assistant and Registered Medical Officers. "Our strike will be held in all areas except tsunami affected areas," said GMOA Secretary Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya adding that a general membership meeting on tomorrow noon would decide on a further course of action. Emergency care will be maintained during the strike. "We are making a very reasonable request to the Government. Just freeze the SLMC and appoint a committee comprising academics, and legal experts to settle this serious issue," Dr. Padeniya added. He hit out at the SLMC which he says is now in the process of recognising apothecaries as Medical Doctors and said this would lead to a severe crisis in the health sector. "The SLMC had already issued letters recognising 44 apothecaries as doctors. But they have not obtained any academic qualification and undergone proper training," Padeniya said. He said the SLMC had failed to carry out its duties in safeguarding the standards of the country's medical care. "It has failed to uphold the standards of the medical profession and has degraded the medical sector. We have decided to resign from the SLMC," Dr. Padeniya said. He said those apothecaries had undergone only six months training in Russia whereas a Medical Officer had to follow six to seven years study to qualify as a doctor. However, the Society of Registered and Assistant Medical Officers refuted the GMOA accusations. "We have been in the medical service for many years unlike a fresh medical student. In fact, we have undergone proper training at the St. Petersburg Medical Academy in Russia and even the Supreme Court has ordered the SLMC to register our degree," Society Spokesman Dr. S.K.N. Jeewakaratne. Dr. Padeniya said the case was very clear. "As far as this issue is concerned, it is very clear and we can't compromise. If you open the door for people who have undergone training for just six months it will be the end of the medical profession and this would create many problems." He urged the Government to appoint a committee to formulate a Medical Council similar to those in India, UK and USA. In any country, maintaining the standards of the medical profession on behalf of the people is the responsibility of the Medical Council. They are answerable to the people." The GMOA has now formed a joint forum with the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the Independent Medical Practitioners Association to face this situation. This is a professional issue and the first meeting of the forum will be held tomorrow," added Dr. Padeniya. |
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