GMOA warns of action against attempts to create divisions among doctors

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) says it will take further action against what it describes as political agendas aimed at creating conflicts among different categories of doctors, including specialist doctors, and pushing Sri Lanka’s free health service into a crisis.

The GMOA stressed that cooperation among all categories of doctors and internal stability within the health system are essential to maintaining the country’s free healthcare service at international standards.

The association said retaining doctors, including specialists, in Sri Lanka had become a major challenge amid the economic, social, and political instability experienced by the country in recent years.

To address the issue, a committee comprising the Ministry of Health, medical professional associations, and other stakeholders had been appointed. According to the GMOA, the committee reached an agreement to establish a new service category and salary structure under the name “Sri Lanka Medical Service,” with the aim of retaining doctors from all categories in the country.

The GMOA also pointed out that during the third reading of the 2026 Budget, an assurance had been given that such a separate service category would be established with the objective of retaining all doctors, including specialists, in Sri Lanka.

However, the association alleges that a proposal has now been put forward to establish a separate service category exclusively for specialist doctors, warning that this could create divisions among different categories of medical professionals.

The GMOA said it does not agree with the proposal, considering the potential impact on the free health service and patient care of establishing a separate service minute for only one category of doctors.

The association further stated that it has submitted both verbal and written representations to the relevant committee on the matter.

It added that despite several requests to the authorities for a copy of the committee report, the document has not yet been provided.