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Specialists desert GMOA to join AMS as latter holds AGM
View(s):The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) is due to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) this morning in Colombo amidst a flood of resignations by specialist doctors from the membership of the powerful Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) in recent weeks.
With a large number of specialist doctors breaking away from the GMOA, the AMS is preparing to hold its AGM at 9 this morning at the auditorium of the National Blood Transfusion Service at Narahenpita.
Around 85% of specialist doctors serving in State hospitals have resigned from the GMOA, the Sunday Times learns. There are around 2,000 specialist doctors serving in the State sector across the country. These specialist doctors are expected to swell the ranks of the AMS, a source who declined to be identified said, adding that the AMS already has a membership of about 500 who joined it a few years ago. Although formed back in the 1950s, the AMS had been defunct until 2005 when it was revived and re-registered under the Trade Union Ordinance. The issues which have caused heart-burning among the specialist doctors include salary anomalies and the non-introduction of a Specialists’ Register. However, the GMOA hierarchy has vociferously denied giving “step-motherly” treatment to them.
In a comprehensive report headlined, ‘Specialists threaten en masse resignation from GMOA over unfair treatment’, the Sunday Times of April 5 reported the looming crisis within the GMOA and moves to strengthen the AMS as dissatisfaction over the treatment of specialist doctors by the GMOA had a ripple effect. Meanwhile, dubbing this morning’s meeting as a “historic” moment, e-mails flying back and forth indicate that consultants wish to join hands to fight for their rights, “as the GMOA has let them down”.
Once a large majority of consultants are united in a trade union that keeps their identity, the GMOA will lose its ability to manipulate the system, the e-mails state, adding that if the GMOA is reasonable it can be their (AMS’s) brother union, working together most of the time on common issues. “We are not an anti-GMOA force,” these e-mails add.