Sri Lanka’s healthcare system is once again at the center of a fierce standoff between the government and the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), as doctors prepare to intensify trade union action after a recent island-wide strike. The dispute, which has escalated into a political and institutional crisis, highlights deepening tensions over staffing, funding, and patient care—raising concerns about the future of public health services in the country.
Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijayamuni has sharply criticized the GMOA, accusing the union of using patient welfare as leverage to advance political demands. Speaking after the 48-hour strike, he insisted that even if the Central Bank were to release all requested funds, the GMOA’s demands would still remain unmet. “Do not play with human lives,” he warned, asserting that the government has yet to utilize even its minimum authority to resolve the conflict. He argued that the union, which he said should be a mature institution given its century-long history, is acting “immoderately” and is motivated by political interests rather than public welfare.
The GMOA has strongly rejected these accusations and insisted that the government has failed to implement agreed solutions, forcing doctors to take further action. At a media briefing in Colombo, GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa announced the start of continuous trade union action beginning at 8:00 a.m. on the 26th. He outlined a series of five targeted actions aimed at pressuring the Ministry of Health, emphasizing that the strike would exclude critical care institutions such as the Children’s Hospital, Maternity Hospital, Apeksha Hospital, and the Angoda National Mental Health Institute.
Among the measures announced, the GMOA stated that doctors would not issue prescriptions for medicines that are unavailable within hospital systems, nor would they refer patients for laboratory tests that cannot be performed within government facilities. The union also warned that if the Ministry fails to provide the approved number of doctors, it would block approval for new doctors or the opening of new units in government hospitals. In addition, the GMOA criticized the government’s use of medical clinics and health camps for political purposes, saying its members would not participate or support such initiatives.
The union’s announcement included a warning that doctors would refuse to work in outpatient units without a chaperone to assist in patient examinations, a measure that could further disrupt routine healthcare services. “The trade union action we are starting today is not about not working,” Dr. Sugathadasa said. “If the Ministry of Health does not provide the necessary facilities, this free health service will collapse.” He urged the government to take responsibility, warning that the public healthcare system could continue to deteriorate if the crisis is not resolved.
The conflict has exposed the fragility of Sri Lanka’s public health infrastructure amid political pressures and fiscal constraints. As both sides dig in, the standoff threatens to deepen a broader crisis in public service delivery, potentially affecting millions of patients who rely on state hospitals for essential care. With tensions rising and no clear resolution in sight, the dispute underscores the wider struggle between medical professionals seeking better resources and a government facing mounting political and economic challenges.
