Doctors protest against recognizing RMOs

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 January 2005, 18:27 GMT]
The government medical officers Association (GMOA) held a one day strike Tuesday in all hospitals expect those in tsunami-affected areas to protest the recognition given by the Srilanka medical council to Registered Medical Officers (RMOs) and Assistant Medical Officers (AMOs).

The government medical officers Association (GMOA) said some of the RMOs or AMOs known as apothecaries had not even passed their advanced level examination in bioscience and it was dangerous to allow them to practise as doctors.

GMOA president Kumar Weerasekara, Secretary Anuradha Padeniya and other officials addressing a news conference yesterday said they were horrified that RMOs or AMOs, after following a course in Russia for just seven months, are being put on par with fully qualified doctors.

The GMOA officials said the Srilanka medical Association and all medical colleges are supporting their action and they are having a meeting Tuesday to decide on further action.

The medical council recognised the degrees of the RMOs and AMOs on the basis of a Supreme Court ruling but GMOA says the ruling has been misinterpreted.