Aug 14, Colombo: Executive committee members of Sri Lanka Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) met President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at the Temple Trees to discuss their transport problems.

Minister of Health, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Finance Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara were also present at the meeting.

GMOA says that tax allowance provided to the selected public servants to import vehicles is restricted only for brand new vehicles and demands the permission to import reconditioned vehicles through the permit. The doctors seek official transport to the workplace or an increase to the fuel allowance since the fuel cost has increased. They have threatened to initiate trade union action if the government fails to take action.

GMOA is the only trade union that can seriously affect the public. Doctors in public service in Sri Lanka hold a monopoly as there is a dearth of doctors, especially in the rural areas. Currently there are about 14,000 doctors employed in government hospitals. Each year only 1,000 new doctors enter into the service. An entry level doctor is paid as much as a senior civil servant, sources say. The majority of Sri Lanka's doctors is also engaged in private practice and earns several-folds of their government salary through it.

Political analysts say Sri Lanka needs more private hospitals and more private doctors in rural areas to loosen the stronghold of GMOA. Analysts believe opening more private medical schools is a solution to the deficiency of doctors but there is s strong opposition to that idea.

(Pix: Chandana Perera)