GMOA prepares MoU

Removal of civilian doctors from Army Hospital

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Executive Committee yesterday appointed a five-member committee to prepare an MoU to be signed between the Ministries of Defence and Health and the GMOA about the working conditions of civilian doctors attached to the Army Hospital, Narahenpita.

The GMOA took this decision following a discussion with the civilian doctors that are attached to the Army Hospital.

“During this discussion we found that it was an unpopular station although it is in the middle of Colombo. Doctors and interns prefer rural hospitals to the Army hospital. The station is unattractive because of the working conditions for civilian doctors,” GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando told The Island yesterday.

After the discussion, the GMOA Executive Committee decided that they should further look at the working conditions at the Army Hospital and to prepare an MoU to improve working conditions.

“There were 38 civilian doctors attached to the Army Hospital and about 10 Army doctors. Recently, three civilian doctors were transferred out without replacements and this drastically increased the workload of everyone. At the end of the day, those who receive treatment are patients and we have a duty to serve them well. Such ad hoc transfer and the bad working conditions can lead to a deterioration of the service. We want to serve patients better and improve working conditions of the doctors with this MoU,” Dr. Fernando said.