GMOA decries delaying of internships to 400 docs

… claims Health Ministry wants to accommodate KDU batch

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Alleging that the Health Ministry deliberately delayed internship to new doctors, the Government Medical Officers’ Association yesterday (07) said that it would resort to trade union action unless the government sorted out the issue by next Monday (12).

GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said his association’s trade union action would be announced on the same day (12).

Pointing out that approximately 400 new doctors had been awaiting internship for about one year, Dr. Aluthge alleged that the Health Ministry delayed the process as it wanted to accommodate a group of medical students from the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), who are yet to achieve the basic qualifications. According to the top GMOA spokesperson the KDU batch included some SAITM (South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine) students.

A Health Ministry spokesperson said that they were in the process of addressing this issue.

“We are confident internships can be finalized by the last week of June.” The official alleged that the GMOA was making an unncessary issue, knowing very well that internships would be given later this month.

The GMOA has sought an assurance from the Health Ministry that internships would be given, the latest by 27 June, the day the previous batch of 400 doctors complete their internship.

Dr. Aluthge also questioned the delay on the part of the Health Ministry in informing the Medical Council of the fresh internships. He said they were concerned about allegations that a senior official at the Ministry had caused the deliberate delay.