Letter to the editor

result of a doctor’s strike is an imponderable that is incapable of statistical documentation. For example we will never know the number of people, who, having developed some sinister symptom at home died, suffered some complication, or whose eventual recovery was compromised because they were put off from promptly going to hospital by the knowledge that doctors were on strikes and fear that services might be restricted.

In the case of university students their ability to strike and boycott classes with impunity makes it impossible to effect necessary policy changes in higher education and maintain campus discipline. The punishment of students for grave offences like the torture of new entrants (ragging) invariably provokes disruptive strikes instigated by aggressive militant student unions. Such strikes bring academic programmes to a standstill intimidating university authorities into backing down so as to restore normalcy whatever the sacrifice of principle. Furthermore, the power of students instigated by politically oriented student unions to retaliate with strikes paralysing academic programmes across the universities, seriously limits the ability of governments to institute enlightened reforms in the higher education sector.

Alongside these considerations, there is the abomination of ugly posters and placards that pollute hospital premises when doctors are on strike in contempt of the rights of worried patients to a tranquil non-confrontational hospital environment. Nor must we forget the chaos and disruption resulting from rowdy street demonstrations and public meetings that accompany strikes by doctors and university students, with rioting mayhem and traffic blocks on public roads causing severe inconvenience to the general public

For the foregoing reasons there is a strong case for action to prohibit strikes by doctors ( and possibly other hospital workers) as well as university students. Apart from pragmatic considerations, there is a strong intellectual and philosophical justification for such an initiative based on some important principles.

In the case of doctors the prevention and treatment of disease is a life- and- death issue. As a vocation, the practice of medicine is dominantly a life- and- death concern. In this respect, the medical profession stands alongside those in the police, armed services, and fire services, which traditionally do not resort to strike action in a civilised society, because to do so would jeopardise the lives of people. If at all doctors have a greater and more immediate impact on life and death in the community.

In the case of university students, they are the recipients of free education at the expense of taxpayers. University students are not workers. Consequently they are not entitled to trade union rights including the right to strike. Therefore, the so-called “student strikes” are a monstrous absurdity tantamount to the gratuitous abuse of public charity.

Accordingly there is an incontrovertible logical argument and a strong basis in principle for firmly prohibiting strikes by doctors (and possibly other hospital workers) as well as strikes involving the boycott of classes by students in state universities. Such prohibition might be instituted in different ways. However, one mechanism that may have considerable clout would be appropriate legislation through an Act of Parliament. Such legislation would have enormous public support, indeed overwhelming endorsement if it ever came to a referendum! It remains for the government to have the political will and take the initiative in the public interest. Prof. A.N.I. Ekanayaka Emeritus Professor & former Dean Faculty of Dental

Science, Peradeniya