Jan 11, Colombo: The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOS) has organized a sudden strike demanding the removal of Health Minister from his post.

The influential white collar trade union has organized the one-day strike without giving any notice to the public. Thousands of patients, many from poorest social segments faced severe difficulties due to the strike.

The main demand of the doctors was to increase the transport and house rental allowances to suit for the present cost of living. However, all government doctors are entitled to duty free car permits and housing loans at very concessionary interest rates.

Tension between the Health Ministry and the doctors’ trade union has been surging since the government is taking steps to reorganize the health service. Yesterday, the trade union officials scoffed at the government order for the doctors to write only the generic names of the medicines on their prescription. The trade union compared the government attempt to “fetch water with a bucket full of holes”. Also, the doctors are in clash with the Ministry on its policy to appoint doctors to North and East.