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Dental surgeons to launch islandwide token strike demanding director’s removal
View(s):By Sajeniya Sathanandan
The Government Dental Surgeons Association has announced it will proceed with an islandwide token strike on Thursday, November 6, despite government claims that it has provided sufficient solutions to resolve the outstanding issues.
“We have sort of given some solution. They know what we have done; there are no grounds for them to strike,” Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe told the Sunday Times.
However, the association’s president Dr. Nadun Dhammika stated that there was “absolutely no solution and the association will go ahead with the strike as planned”.
Dr Dhammika said that the association had some non- negotiable demands, which are to change the current director of dental services and to implement inquiries into conduct of the director and administrative failures.
Specific concerns include the annual transfer list of Grade and Consultant Dental Surgeons which was prepared but deliberately not submitted to the Public Service Commission, and the digital system used for annual transfers being dismantled. These actions directly impact the professional lives and placement of doctors, he said.
Furthermore, the director is accused of obstructing several critical service reforms. This includes halting the necessary groundwork for cadre expansion proposals needed to address service gaps and workload inequalities.
Additionally the association charges that the national oral health survey has been obstructed, and key initiatives such as integrating dental services into primary health care reforms, modernising equipment norms, and updating procurement policies have all been frozen.
The association said annual transfers are supposed to be completed by January of each year to continue the rotation of dental surgeons around the country. As it is not activated dental surgeons have been stuck in rural postings for up to five or six years instead of the required four years. This situation has led to the resignation of about100 dental surgeons who have decided to go into private practice.
Dr Dhammika also claimed that the director has allegedly harassed support staff who have resigned citing mental stress and workload.
“These matters have been taken to the ministry many times for a year, yet solutions have not been provided which led the association to go ahead with a strike,” he said.
He said the the 24-hour token strike will include dental surgeons and consultants who perform dental surgery. All routine work and services will be disrupted, except for emergencies.
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