Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa, Secretary of the GMOA, has issued a statement warning that if the Minister of Health does not take immediate corrective measures, the association is prepared to resort to strict professional action.
The full text of the press release is as follows:
Press Release
Crisis in the Transfer Process of Doctors Due to Unnecessary External Pressures
The Sri Lankan medical service operates on an island-wide basis, ensuring equitable and high-quality healthcare throughout the country. Achieving this objective requires doctors to be appropriately stationed across all hospitals and regions.
To facilitate this, the transfer process for all categories of doctors, including specialists, administrative grade doctors, and general grade doctors, must be conducted systematically, efficiently, and transparently.
The transfer process is governed by the Establishments Code, the procedural rules of the Public Service Commission, and circulars issued by the Ministry of Health. Medical Transfer Boards, operating under the Establishments Code, are central to maintaining transparency and ensuring the process remains free of political or external influence.
However, there has been a troubling trend of undue interference in the transfer process by various parties, leading to violations of established legal procedures.
The 2025 annual transfer list for grade doctors, for instance, has been delayed for several months due to certain Ministry of Health officials attempting to bypass existing regulations. This delay has unfairly impacted over 5,000 doctors.
Temporary assignments of doctors must be approved by the Transfer Board to uphold fairness, transparency, and accuracy. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Health has unlawfully excluded the Medical Transfer Board from this process, raising concerns about a potential agenda to prioritize political interests over transparency and fairness.
Recent developments indicate similar interference in the transfer process for specialist doctors. A particularly contentious issue has been the appointment of an additional position at Castle Street Women’s Hospital for the new Chairman of the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital. This decision, made in violation of all accepted procedures and legal provisions, has drawn widespread criticism.
The decision to bypass the Specialist Doctors Transfer Board and refer the matter directly to the Public Service Commission for approval raises serious questions about who is behind such actions. Despite protests from both the GMOA and the Specialist Doctors Association, the Ministry of Health has not taken any corrective steps, signaling an environment where legal procedures are being overlooked to fulfill political agendas.
Of further concern is the emergence of a troubling “new tradition” at the Minister of Health’s office. Orders to alter the placements of selected specialist doctors are being issued on the Minister’s letterhead, bypassing existing legal provisions and standard protocols.
These practices represent serious political interference in the transfer process of doctors. If immediate measures are not taken by the Minister of Health to rectify this situation, the Government Medical Officers’ Association will have no choice but to take decisive professional action.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa,
Secretary.
