Tug-of-war between Ministry and health worker unions continues; patients suffer
JP Sun ila Ranjani, a 73-year-old patient suffering from a heart ailment was compelled to stand in a long queue at an Osusala – a State pharmaceutical corporation outlet – due to the strike by nursing and supplementary medical staff this week.
The tug- of- war between the Health Ministry and unions crippled health services across the island this week. The unions represent nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, paramedics, radiographers, public health officers and supplementary medical staff.
Major state hospitals and provincial hospitals were hit by a shortage of nursing staff while dispensing of medicines, laboratory tests, issuing x-rays and other public health services came to a halt. The worst hit were the patients seeking treatment at Outdoor Patients Departments ( OPDs) and clinics.
Sunila, a resident of Avissawella, complained that the Osu Sala outlet issued medicine only for a week unlike the National Hospital that dispenses medicines for a month or two. Due to unavailability of staff to dispense medicines at state hospitals, people were asked to produce their prescriptions at Osu Sala outlets to obtain medicines free of charge.
“I will have to come again next week. I hope these issues are sorted out soon," she said.
Patients who were discharged from State hospitals too were seen in queues with pillows, flasks and other personal belongings in hand.
Dhammika Sudusinghe from Nittambuwa was standing in a queue while her husband, who was discharged after a week’s stay in hospital, sat in a chair waiting to get his medicines.
The indefinite strike which began earlier this week, continued for four days until Colombo District Court on Thursday issued an enjoining order preventing the Government Nursing Officers' Association and its President Saman Ratnapriya from continuing the strike till February 24. The order came after a request was made by the Attorney General's Department taking into consideration the inconveniences faced by patients arriving at state hospitals.
Yesterday, the President through a gazette notification declared the health and electricity sectors as essential services.
Meanwhile, unions reiterated that their grievances have been ignored despite their crucial role during the pandemic.
Government Nursing Officers Association Saman Ratnapriya said 19 trade unions had been holding picketing campaigns, lunch time protests, protest marches, Province-wise strikes for nearly four months.
“If the people were inconvenienced it was due to the Health Ministry’s inability to provide a solution to our grievances. The Minister said he will raise our concerns at tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting,” he said.
The unions jointly coming under the Federation of Health Professionals consisting of 65,000 members have been demanding that the authorities meet their seven demands. The main demand is that a solution should be found to what they say is a disparity in health professionals' salary scale in comparison to the recently increased teachers salaries.
Other demands include: Implement the report of the Ranuge Salary Committee to eliminate disparities in salaries Increase the Disturbance, Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 Pay the overtime rates at 1/80 of basic salary according to the calculation of medical officer grades Implement the promotion procedure for Grade I at 12 years which was approved by the Cabinet last July backdating to November 1, 2010 Eliminate the salary disparities and establish correct salary scales for professional degrees Establish a health admin
istration service representing all health professionals including nursing and professions supplementary to medicine (PSM) Following the enjoining order on the Government Nursing Officers Association, Government Medical Laboratory Technologists Head Ravi Kumudesh said they were holding talks with legal advisors and they plan to go ahead with the strike. He said they were looking into the possibility of taking legal action against the Health Ministry for ignoring the plight of 65,000 health workers.
Public Health Inspectors Union President Upul Rohana said it was unfortunate that the Health Ministry had failed to recognise the role played by PHIs during the pandemic. PHIs stayed away from Covid vaccination duties as well this week.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said some demands need to be discussed with the Cabinet of Ministers and this would take at least two weeks.
“The Government has taken a policy decision not to create new positions this year. Health sector salaries and allowances are high in comparison with other services and due to the present situation, there is no possibility of meeting some of the demands,” he said.