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| Sunday, 15 June 2003 |
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The doctors strike: 'Healing hands turn to claws of death' In a trend that is becoming nauseatingly regular, government doctors set aside their stethoscopes and resorted to trade union action last week, demanding among other things, a significant salary increase. Once again, the victims of the medicos action were the ill, the feeble and the poor who can ill afford the exorbitant charges of private medical care. Literally held to ransom by the very people they sought succour from, not many understood the doctors' demand or their action. Their tales of woe reverberated from the empty hospitals around the country, where thousands were turned away without the medical care they so badly need. Ill and feeble many had come from far, begging and borrowing their transport fare, only to be told that 'doctors were on strike'. The GMOA initiated strike action on Wednesday demanding that the salary anomalies created in 1988 be rectified immediately and that mission allowance to MO's working the North and East, unpaid since January 2000, also be paid immediately. On Friday, the doctors announced that they would be suspending their strike action for 48 hours beginning Saturday on account of the Poson Poya, ostensibly because they do not want to inconvenience the pilgrims, but have said they will recommence the strike on Monday if their demands are not met. The harassed public, unable to understand the medicos logic in not wanting to inconvenience the pilgrims, but willing to sacrifice the sick, wonder whether the doctors took the hypocrite oath instead of the famed Hippocratic Oath and claim that no matter what they say, the doctors cannot justify their strike action. This is what a cross-section of society have to say about the doctors' strike. ****** by Neomi Kodikara Somaratne of Kelaniya Under normal circumstances doctors who are reasonably kind towards patients would not have resorted to such extreme measures, even against public opinion, unless they have some serious grievances. The Government should address their grievances in an amicable manner to ensure that such repetitions do not occur. Priyal Perera of Matara Doctors should consider the practice of medicine a vocation not a business. When they launch strikes, it is the poor who are in trouble not the rich. The poor have no choice but to seek treatment in government hospitals, and human lives are being sacrificed at the altar of the GMOA. It is true that their demands should be met but why can't they take some alternative measure other than using poor patients as a shield. Asoka of Grandpass I see selfish motives behind these strike actions. So many people depend on them for their lives, they look up to the doctors as their saviours.This has become so common in this country. Only the poor suffer. The rich patients will get private medical treatment or fly to a foreign country for medical attention. Moreover, most of the doctors in Sri Lanka have had a free education provided by the State, which costs several millions of rupees and it is money that belongs to the people. So it is unethical for them to desert patients when they are in need. Hands that are supposed to heal have become claws demanding death. J.K. Samaragunaratne, Company Executive These strikes are anti-social and they have become a way of life in Sri Lanka. we see them happen quite often and clearly they are overstepping the limits of moderation and so is our tolerance. People in this country expect those responsible for providing health services to lead the way and set an example. Is this the way they do it? It is shameful. It is typical heartless behaviour of the doctors. Priyadarshani of Madiwela Habitual and constant strikes staged by these `doctors' have caused many a hardship and extreme mental and physical suffering to the patients and the public. We wonder whether the members of the noble medical profession honour the Hippocratic oath which binds them. It is so disheartening to find them devoid of kindness natural to humanity. However, all doctors cannot be tarnished with the same brush there are a few who are still devoted to their profession. ****** 'No hidden political agenda' -Dr. N.S.A. Senaratne, Dr. N.S.A. Senaratne, member of the Media Committee of the GMOA and Secretary of the GMOA branch at the National Hospital, Colombo, said there is neither any hidden political agenda nor any intention to embarass the Government. Our main demand is to rectify immediately the salary anomaly created since 1988 and the anomaly suddenly widened when the Minister of Health with a special circular in October 2002 gave an increased AMP/RMP's salaries pending Cabinet approval. Non-payment of mission allowances to doctors working in the North and East since January 2000 is the other issue. It is the attitude and involvement of the Minister that compelled us to take trade union action. During the previous discussions with the Cabinet Sub Committee the GMOA compromised heavily on the salary anomaly and agreed to proposals made by the sub committee. The agreement was to rectify the anomaly only from 1997 even though it was created in 1988. The Minister can give a solution within two weeks but he has not agreed to do so, the situation has become chaotic. Everybody sympathises with the hardship faced by the public, Are we not a part of the public? If we continue to be quiet who will look into our grievances? Do we have to think about others concerns forgetting ours and is it fair by us? |
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