Health professionals cripple hospital services

Health professionals have launched a 24 hour token strike protesting against reduction of their allowances, crippling services at state hospitals.

The unions related to health professional services staged the strike after talks with the Treasury officials failed on Monday.

The  Federation of Health Professionals informed Health Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa about the strike action before launching the trade union action at 7.00 a.m. today.

“A discussion was held with the Ministry of Finance on 17.03.2025 to assess whether a practical intervention could be made to address the proposed reductions in health professionals' allowances—from 1/20 and 1/160 to 1/30 and 1/200—as outlined in the new government’s maiden budget. However, it was confirmed that there is no willingness to provide a positive resolution to our concerns during that meeting,” the letter to the minister said.

“In light of this, the Executive Council of the Federation of Health Professionals has unanimously decided to proceed with a 24-hour token strike (trade union action) on 18.03.2025, commencing at 7:00 a.m. As the Government Medical Laboratory Scientists' Association (SLAGMLT), we fully support and will actively participate in this action,,” the letter added.

The unions said the strike will be implemented in all hospitals and health institutions, except all Maternity hospitals, all Children's hospitals, all Cancer hospitals, all Kidney hospitals, and the National Institute of Mental Health.

However, the unions warned that  if any officer within any institution attempts to disrupt this strike, we will immediately withdraw from all life-saving, emergency, and essential services.

They said, during the strike, life-saving, emergency, and essential services will be maintained on a voluntary basis, without recording attendance or receiving any allowances.