NE resident doctors give ultimatum to Government

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 August 2002, 06:48 GMT]
Resident doctors working in the Northeast province who are members of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) have categorically told the ministry of health that they will launch a continuous strike after one month if the authorities failed to pay the one-year special mission allowance now being paid to non-resident doctors from other provinces serving in Northeast.

The Health Ministry Secretary Dr.Reggie Perera was informed of this when visited Trincomalee on Tuesday, GMOA sources said.

Northeast resident doctors Tuesday staged a token strike crippling the medical services in the province. The GMOA branches in the province have accused the

health authorities for showing discrimination in paying the special mission allowance.

The GMOA representatives met the Health Ministry Secretary on Tuesday and briefed him about the impending action if the government continued its discriminatory policy. The Health Ministry Secretary had promised that he would take appropriate steps to pay the special mission allowance.

GMOA representatives said they would give one month's time to the Health Ministry to keep its promise. Thereafter the GMOA will launch a strike that will continue until the demand is met, sources said.