Deputy Minister says GMOA issue is political

14-Feb-2026

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Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijayamuni stated that while the government can resolve doctors’ issues, it cannot resolve the issues of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) as they are political in nature.

He made these remarks during a press briefing at the Ministry of Health on 12 February.

He said the GMOA operates more like an organization within the government and insisted that the government has the capacity and strength to distinguish between doctors’ professional concerns and the political issues of the GMOA.

Although the GMOA has claimed to be engaged in trade union action, he said no such action is visible in hospitals and doctors continue to report to work as usual. He added that the union may continue its actions, but they would eventually fade away.

Meanwhile, in line with a decision by the GMOA executive committee, specialist doctors will work only at their assigned hospitals and avoid covering services at hospitals without specialists, while continuing trade union action.