Thank you for the letter that reveals the ugly truth

A letter in the Sunday Times of August 5 titled, “Why do doctors think they are special creations?” by Dr.Nandanee Gunawardane, Ph.D. Engineer, is a masterpiece. With a vast amount of amazing down-to earth facts, she has hit the nail right on the head. She has done the needful on behalf of the thousands who are victimised and unable to voice their opinion. For this,the reading public owe their deepest gratitude to her.

In the days of yore,the Government Medical Officers’ Union (GMOA) was about the strongest Trade Union in the country. They too would have had their grievances,but by being more humane and gentlemanlike,they never attempted to show their strength by way of strikes holding the poor patients to ransom. But alas! Nowadays the GMOA seems to be going on strike “at the drop of a hat”as the 5th Column in your newspaper put it some time back.

Just a day or two before the last strike (August 3) one offi- cial of the GMOA said at a televised news conference that the people should know,whom they should elect as their representatives if these strikes are to be averted.Does this not mean that these strikes are politically motivated? After all who are doctors to advise people on such matters? On the contrary, the public, if given the chance,will definitely advise the membership of the GMOA whom they should NOT elect as their officials.

It may perhaps be unfair to point the finger at the general membership of the GMOA as most doctors have to abide by the rule of the majority. There could even have been external pressure on them which is not uncommon in these activities. Anyhow the saying goes that you cannot fool all the people all the time. Remember the Bible story that once a mighty Goliath terrorizing nations,was downed just by a pellet from the catapult of a boy David.

Neville A.Perera Battaramulla