GMOA gives deadline to arrest rapist of lady doctor

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has given a deadline till 8 a.m tomorrow to arrest the man who raped a lady doctor  at Anuradhapura warning of strict union action if this was not done.

The Association said doctors would engage in   strict union action in the North Central Province if police fail to arrest the rapist before 8.00 am tomorrow.

Spokesman for the GMOA Dr, Prabath Sugathadasa told the Times online that if the police and the authorities failed to apprehend the rapist by tomorrow all hospitals in the NCP would go on strike from 8.00 am onwards. 
He added that the medical staff of the Anuradhapura hospital which was on a token strike would continue the strike indefinitely if the authorities fail to arrest the suspect.

During a special executive committee meeting of the GMOA held today afternoon the decision was taken to meet the Minister of Public  Security and the officials and stake holders of national security to discuss  measures to ensure the safety of medical doctors. 

“ We call for an immediate meeting with the minister of public security, and stake holders related to national security to point out areas which need to be covered to ensure the safety of doctors”, he said.

He warned that if the safety of the medical doctors are undermined GMOA would appear behalf of them and would take strong union actions if the government failed to take immediate response affecting the whole island. 

 Dr Sugathadasa said that GMOA condemns the incident. 
“The incident occurred in a teaching hospital which had some facilities, security and even a police post, but there are hospitals set up in more remote and rural areas which has lesser facilities. There are areas identified which are less secure. Therefore we call the Health, Ministry, hospital management as well as public security stake holders to take action to ensure security of doctors ” he said