Doctors protest over kerosene

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 October 1998, 12:52 GMT]
Doctors at the Out Patient's Department at Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital in Mullaitivu have began a work to rule action, in protest at the Sri Lankan government's cut in the supply of kerosene, said sources there.

The doctors' protest has resulted in large number of patients being turned away from the OPD, the sources said.

Between 700 and 1000 patient are treated daily at the OPD. The doctors' protest has, however, resulted in only 250 being treated each day now.

The hospital had been using kerosene as fuel for its vehicles, due to the ban on the transport of other petroleum products (including petrol, diesel and lubrication oil) into areas not controlled by the Sri Lankan government.