The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) strongly highlights that due to the inefficiency and lack of responsibility in the actions of the Ministry of Health, the entire process of transferring grade medical officers has been completely disrupted. This, the GMOA warns, poses a grave threat to the smooth functioning of the entire hospital system in Sri Lanka.
In a press release, the GMOA made several accusations against the Ministry.
As the GMOA points out in its statement, the quality and continuity of Sri Lanka’s nationwide public healthcare service depend heavily on the proper deployment and transfer of doctors across the country.
The transfer process is governed by the Establishment Code, the rules of the Public Service Commission, and circulars issued by the Ministry of Health. The Medical Transfer Board plays a central role in this process, with the GMOA being the principal stakeholder of that board.
However, recently, the GMOA alleges, the transfer process has come under illegitimate external influence, with some officials in the Ministry of Health acting arbitrarily, ignoring legal procedures. This has led to utter chaos in the transfer process for over 23,000 grade medical officers, causing severe injustice and suffering among doctors.
In a full statement released under the title, “The Risk of Hospital System Collapse Due to Inefficient and Irresponsible Actions of the Ministry of Health in the Transfer Process of Grade Medical Officers,” the GMOA, through its Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa, stressed several key issues:
Importance of the Transfer Process for Quality Healthcare
Despite the challenges, including doctor shortages, Sri Lanka’s free healthcare system continues to provide high-quality patient care, mainly through the dedication of specialist doctors and other healthcare staff.
Given that the Sri Lankan medical service operates nationwide, it is essential to ensure the even and consistent deployment of medical professionals across all regions and hospitals.
This includes transfers of specialist doctors, administrative-grade doctors, and other grade medical officers, which must be conducted efficiently, transparently, and according to established procedures.
Governing Mechanism for Transfers
Transfers are regulated by the Establishment Code, procedures of the Public Service Commission, and circulars issued by the Health Ministry. To ensure transparency and prevent political or external interference, the Medical Transfer Board must function according to these regulations.
The GMOA is the principal and only representative of medical officers on the Transfer Board, with the Ministry of Health being the other party.
Rising Trend of Unlawful Influence
The GMOA has observed a concerning trend where various parties are exerting undue and illegal influence on the transfer process. Certain Health Ministry officials are allegedly ignoring legal frameworks and acting arbitrarily, undermining the standard transfer procedures.
This has turned the transfer process into a tangled mess, affecting over 23,000 doctors and subjecting many to severe injustice and distress. Hospitals, especially in remote areas, already suffering from a shortage of doctors, are now facing the threat of operational collapse.
Delays in Post-Intern Appointments
Two groups of post-intern medical officers totaling 1,977 are still awaiting appointments. Of these, one group of 1,494 doctors has been waiting for over nine months after completing their internship. These appointments, which could help alleviate pressing issues in peripheral hospitals, continue to be delayed by the Health Ministry.
2025 Annual Transfer List Delayed and Flawed
According to the Establishment Code, the 2025 transfer list should have been released by November 1, 2024. However, it was only published on July 11, 2025, with a delay of over nine months. Moreover, it includes several discrepancies—decisions made by the Transfer Board have not even been implemented.
Violations in the 2025 Transfer List
From the final list, 78 positions were removed without any justifiable reason, violating the Transfer Board’s decisions. The Director of Medical Services is alleged to have misled the Public Service Commission with incorrect information, affecting the entire list and causing injustice to many doctors. Continuity of patient care in these 78 health institutions is now under threat.
Over 10,000 Unexecuted Transfers
Currently, more than 10,000 transfers of grade medical officers have not been executed—nearly 50% of the total. The responsibility lies squarely with the Ministry of Health, whose inefficiency and lack of accountability have subjected thousands of doctors to serious hardship.
Abuse of Temporary Appointments
Temporary appointments are supposed to be approved by the Transfer Board to ensure fairness, transparency, and accuracy. However, the Health Ministry is bypassing the Board, making illegal and arbitrary appointments, apparently prioritizing personal relationships over merit—raising serious concerns.
Suspension of Transfer Appeals Mechanism
For over a year, grade medical officers have been denied the opportunity to appeal transfer decisions to the Public Service Commission. This is because the Director of Medical Services has failed to provide the necessary standard operating procedures to the Commission.
Growing Threat to Entire Hospital System
The entire transfer mechanism, which is crucial for managing doctor shortages and maintaining healthcare institutions, is now at risk due to shortsighted actions by Ministry officials. Hospitals across all provinces—especially in peripheral areas—are under imminent threat of closure
Despite this, Health Ministry officials continue to act negligently and irresponsibly, bypassing even the recommendations and approvals of the Transfer Board. This raises serious concerns: Why is this happening? Whose agenda is being fulfilled?
Call for Immediate Intervention
At a time when the government plans major structural changes in the healthcare system, even routine operations like doctor transfers are being deliberately delayed and mishandled. This poses the risk of pushing the free public health system into a serious crisis.
The GMOA therefore calls on the Minister of Health and the Secretary to the Ministry of Health to immediately intervene and resolve these issues. Specifically, the GMOA demands:
Immediate restoration of the transfer and appointment processes
Inclusion of the Transfer Board in decision-making
Immediate appointment of pending post-intern doctors
Proper implementation of the annual transfer mechanism
Correction of the issues caused by the removal of 78 vacancies from the 2025 list
Ensuring all transfers are conducted with Transfer Board approval under Establishment Code regulations
The GMOA expresses confidence that taking these actions will help prevent the collapse of Sri Lanka’s free healthcare service due to the current breakdown in the transfer system.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa
Secretary, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA)
