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SJGH Chairman appointment: “Bad precedent” and “arbitrary”, say two medical trade unions
View(s):- Transfer process also violated
Up in arms against what they charge is the “irregular appointment” of the Chairman of the semi-state Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH), two medical trade unions have fired off letters of objection to Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe.
The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) and the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) have also raised objections over the violation of the specialists’ annual transfer procedure linked to this appointment.
“A Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist holding a substantive post at the Elpitiya Base Hospital (obtained through the annual transfer list approved by the Public Service Commission) has been appointed to another transferable post (as Resident Obstetrician & Gynaecologist – ROG) at the Castle Street Hospital for Women, Colombo, which also appears in the annual transfer list. This violates the usual annual transfer procedure of medical specialists,” states the AMS.
It states that this is while he had also been appointed Chairman of SJGH by the Health Minister, a few months ago while serving at the Elpitiya Hospital, even though there are numerous acting Consultants who can fill the ROG post at the Castle Street Hospital on a temporary basis till the annual transfer process is finalised.
The AMS is categorical that the ROG’s appointment to the Castle Street Hospital is a “violation of all the rules and regulations” of the specialist transfer scheme and is “totally unacceptable”.
It is also difficult to understand how he will perform his duties as the ROG of the Castle Street Hospital while undertaking the full-time responsibilities of the Chairman of SJGH, reiterates the AMS, cautioning that if the transfer procedure of specialists is violated, it will be a “bad” precedent generating significant unrest among specialists.
The AMS further points out that temporary transfers are granted to officers holding substantive posts usually on medical grounds subject to a Medical Board decision.
The GMOA, meanwhile, has opposed the appointment on the grounds that it has been done in an “arbitrary” manner without the concurrence of the Specialist Medical Officers’ Transfer Board and in violation of all transfer norms.
Strongly requesting the Health Secretary to cancel this “arbitrary” appointment immediately, the GMOA has urged that due processes as per rules and regulations governing transfers should be followed.
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