Decisions will not be made under the intimidation of any party - Health Minister

Health Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, stated that decisions would not be made under duress from any party, and while every link in a chain is important, actions must be taken with a proper assessment of that importance. The Minister made these remarks while attending the ceremony yesterday (27) to present appointment letters to a group of Health Management Assistants.

The Minister made these comments against the backdrop of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) currently conducting a nationwide strike.

The nature of this nationwide strike includes not prescribing external purchases for medicines unavailable in hospitals, not referring laboratory tests unavailable in hospitals to external laboratories, not initiating new units in the hospital system without the approval of doctors, not participating in health camps and clinics, and withdrawing from services when there are no assistant officers to examine patients.

The Minister further emphasized that one's mindset should be prepared for the responsibility and gravity of public service from the moment of entry. He pointed out that one cannot navigate public service like everyday life, making excuses, and that if so, it is better to refrain from entering public service.

The Minister emphasized that this is not a game and that all of us have taken on the responsibility for the country. He also stated that all public servants, as public servants, must fulfill that responsibility properly.

However, he also said that one should not think of oneself as indispensable to the world. The Minister reminded that even if someone is absent, another person will be appointed to that position and the world will move forward, and while a link in a chain is important when a process occurs, the world has the ability to find alternative methods.

Therefore, he emphasized that even if we are important, it is essential to act with a proper assessment of that importance. The Minister further stated that the government would provide all possible facilities and that it would not succumb to demands for salary increases through intimidation or by claiming to leave services due to higher salaries or better facilities in Europe.