Health sector declared as an essential service as strike continues

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared all services related to the health as essential services.

The move follows a decision by health sector trade unions to continue a strike launched by them on Tuesday morning.

The Gazette notification announcing the health services as an essential service has been issued by President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake.

Under the notification ‘all service, work or labour, of any description whatsoever, necessary or required to be done in connection with the maintenance, and the reception, care feeding , and treatment, of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries, and other similar insitutions,’ are covered.

The services provided by any public Corporation or Government Department or Local Authority or Co-operative Society or any branch thereof being a Department or Corporation or Local Authority or Co-operative society, which in engaged in provision of above services and considered essential to the life of the community  and is likely to be impeded or interrupted, are covered under the gazette notification.

Meanwhile thousands of patients have been affected by the ongoing strike.

More than 1,000 soldiers have been deployed in state run hospitals to assist medical authorities to maintain services after health workers resumed a strike today morning.

The health workers commenced an indefinite strike from 6.30 a.m. after their talks with the government failed.

Army Spokesman said that so far 1,200 soldiers have been deployed in hospitals.

Paramedics and supplemental medical are demanding that Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance  be increased at the same amount as Doctors’ allowance, which was raised by Rs. 35,000 earlier this year.

Health Minister Dr Ramesh Pathirana today appealed to the workers to return to work.