You’re not hurting the Govt: You’re only hurting the poor
President Sirisena this week lashed out at the GMOA’s strike last Friday and their new threats to lash waves after waves of similar nationwide strikes, including a threat made that they will unleash a strike this country has never seen before.
He said:
“If the doctors think that this strike action will in anyway hurt this government, it is a misapprehension. Strikes will not hurt us. Strikes will not hurt the Government. These strikes only hurt the innocent poor masses. I appeal to the doctors to strike on behalf of patients’ rights. If there are no medicines to treat them, then strike saying there are no medicines.
“If there are no instruments and facilities to treat them, then by all means strike saying there are no instruments and facilities to treat patients. If there are shortcomings in the free health service, then show them and go on strike to get it corrected.
“All these strikes only affect the poor. The down and out. The rich do not come to government hospitals. Those who have money don’t come to government hospitals. All these strikes only hit the poor.”
How true.
The GMOA has made their opposition to the FTA signed by the Government with Singapore recently and called for its abrogation as one of the main strike demands; and has trespassed upon a province it has no right to step upon. Strike action based on such intrusions risking the lives of patients, may ironically pave the way for the public to demand of the Government to bring in foreign doctors to treat Lanka’s sick in order to overcome GMOA intransigence.