Striking doctors not swayed by assurance

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 December 1999, 23:45 GMT]
Thousands of government doctors went on strike for the second day today despite President Chandrika Kumaratunga's assurance that she would bring the medical service under the central government, sources said.

The President is reported to have told representatives of the Government Medical Officers Association (GNOA) that a Gazette notification would be issued on Wednesday, about government's plan to withdraw its decentralisation plan.

Patients waiting at the Out Patient Department (OPD) of the Colombo National Hospital today as doctors went on strikePhoto:TamilNet

According to GMOA sources the president had aslo urged the medical officers at a meeting with her on Monday evening, to call off the strike.

However, a press statement issued by the president's secretary today said the Gazette notice will be issued by next week.

This promoted the GMOA members to continue the strike.

The doctors said they will continue with the strike until the Gazette notification is issued.

Sources said Government hospitals were paralysed today, and only emergency cases are being attended to.