The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has raised serious concerns over what it described as attempts by a group of medical officers to sabotage a Cabinet-backed initiative aimed at resolving long-standing grievances of government medical specialists, including the introduction of a separate service minute.
In a statement, the AMS said certain groups were threatening trade union action with the apparent objective of undermining ongoing government efforts to address decades-old injustices faced by medical specialists in the state health sector.
The association noted that government medical specialists, who enter service with the highest qualification level under the Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework (SLQF Level 12), have been systematically deprived of their rightful status, privileges and fair remuneration for several decades. It added that successive salary revisions since independence have gradually eroded their service category status and relative benefits.
Despite serving as team leaders and forming the backbone of both curative and preventive healthcare services, these long-standing issues have remained largely unresolved, the AMS said.
Against this backdrop, the AMS stated that it united government medical specialists across the island and formally presented their grievances to the current government in November last year. The association said it understands that the Cabinet of Ministers has since taken decisions to address these concerns, including through the introduction of a separate service minute for medical specialists.
The AMS described the Cabinet decision as timely and forward-looking, noting that it would help curb the ongoing brain drain of specialists while enhancing the quality, safety and sustainability of healthcare services provided to the public.
Welcoming the move, the association expressed gratitude to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for what it described as decisive leadership in initiating a long-awaited solution. It also commended Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa for presenting the proposal to Cabinet and consistently advocating on behalf of government medical specialists.
However, the AMS said it had learned from multiple sources that there were deliberate attempts by certain identified groups to mislead both the government and medical officers through what it termed deceptive narratives and internal campaigning. It also referred to media reports claiming that a notice of trade union action had been issued by such groups.
The association stressed that government medical specialists, united under the leadership of the AMS, would not tolerate any attempt to derail the government’s initiative. It further urged authorities not to succumb to pressure from groups seeking to obstruct the legitimate rights of medical specialists.
