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MAY 2012

Government Medical Ocers Association

NEWSLETTER
For private circulation among members only

275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 07


Tel: 2580886 / 2503586/ 0714999555/ 0777599280 FAX: 4518668/2503586
GMOA Web : www.gmoa.lkEmail : info@gmoa.lk : oce@gmoa.lk

GMOA TODAY
Fixed Telecommunication Allowance (2/3 fixed)
1. Doctors who do not wish to submit bills can claim 2/3 of maximum limit as a fixed allowance added to the salary.
2. Doctors can draw the maximum claim limit by submitting bills.
We have made the process very simple for you. Please fill and submit application attached herewith to the head of your institution.
This does not prevent any doctor from claiming maximum TA by submitting bills.

Research Allowance( 25% of salary)


Five doctors can submit one proposal with ethics clearance to DDG/ ET & R and gain Research Allowance. After approval, RA worth of
25% of basic salary is paid before the research is done.
At present more than150 doctors enjoy Research Allowance (RA). Attached herewith is a letter issued by DGHS approving RA payment.

Extra Duty Revision


Current GMOA achieved full implementation of increments to ED payments proposed in 2007 (after three years)

Code Of Conduct For Police When Dealing With Clinicians


There was no code of conduct for the police, when intervening in clinical activities. So Police interference led to harassment of doctors.
GMOA negotiated with IGP to solve this problem constructively and issued guidelines for police.

Countering CEPA and now SATIS


GMOA initiated work to establish mechanism for Foreign Specialist Evaluation & establish a Specialist Registry at SLMC to counter CEPA.
GMOA in consultation with Health Ministry, SLMC, PGIM and all Professional Colleges drafted a framework of evaluation and
registration- Now in final stages.

Illegal Medical Practitioners


GMOA proposed a minimum 5 years of imprisonment for Quacks. MOH s andPolice will act in the future to eradicate quacks. The legal
draft is under discussion now.

No credible Allegations to investigate against GMOA President


All allegations against Dr. A. Padeniya were discarded as baseless, without even an inquiry, by the Bribery Commission.

Injunction Order Against The Strike Has Been Lifted


We defeated injunction order issued on 11th of May, against the island wide strike organized by the GMOA for DAT Allowance. We are
going to file action against the so called patient. Now we are ready to fight for DAT with full strength.

GMOA Head Oce


275/75,
Prof. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha,
Colombo 07

CMB/002/08/N.P.O

Tel: 2580886 / 2503586/ 0714999555/ 0777599280


FAX: 4518668/2503586
GMOA Web : www.gmoa.lk
Email# : info@gmoa.lk : oce@gmoa.lk
HOTLINE: Dr Samantha Ananda


Dr Naveen De Zoysa

- 0777666301
- 0772928119

Editors: Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya, Dr. W.M.P. Warnasuriya, Dr. Sarada Kannangara, Dr. Samantha Ananda, Dr. Mohan Samarasinghe

Government Medical Ocers Association

Newsletter MAY 2012

Code of conduct for police when dealing with clinicians


In the absence of a code of conduct for the police, police intervened in clinical activities leading to harassment of doctors.
Recently, based on an allegation made by a female patient, one of our Branch Secretaries was arrested and kept behind bars for 14
days.
This matter was taken up by the GMOA with IGP to develop a code of conduct.

When a doctor makes a complaint about any harassment during the process of carrying out duties, the OIC or HQI of police
should record the complaint and should immediately inform the ASP and SP of the region.

Investigations on the complaint should be started and maintained by the ASP personally.

The ASP should inform the Senior Deputy Inspector General Administration immediately about the complaint.

If a patient dies in hospital and a statement has to be recorded from the Specialist Medical Officer who treated the patient,
immediately a report has to be sent to the Solicitor General by the police asking for advice regarding the matter. Statements
cant be recorded from Specialist Medical Officers without obtaining advice from the Solicitor General.

If a patient dies and a complaint is made that death had occurred due to medical negligence, the doctor cant be taken in
to custody. If it is necessary to take the doctor in to custody, all records have to be produced to the Solicitor General for
advice beforehand.

Now you can carry out your duties without any inappropriate police interference.

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Government Medical Ocers Association

Research Allowance

Newsletter MAY 2012

Now more than 150 Doctors Enjoy RA

We gained a Research Allowance (RA) worth 25% of the basic salary.


Now Medical Officers can claim Rs 7500 upwards and Consultants can claim Rs 11000.00 upwards monthly.
RA increases with annual salary increments. As such the actual annual salary increment is also increased by 25%.
Research Allowance gives a larger salary increment than grade promotions
For one research proposal, RA is granted for 24 months. If the research is published allowance will be given forever.
RA is granted after submission of only a proposal; before the research is finished. RA is granted with the submission of only a
proposal with ethics clearance to DDG/ET & R Unit of Ministry of Health
Five members can submit one proposal and enjoy the allowance together.
24 Branch unions have successfully organized Research proposal writing workshops to help their members to gain the Research
Allowance.
Research Allowance payment has been initiated for 30 doctors as of 18th April 2012 (after four months of the issuance of the
circular).
Please Establish Ethics Review committees for the convenience of the members in your Teaching and Provincial Hospitals as per
Guidelines issued by Forum of Ethics Review Committees, Sri Lanka. Guidelines are available at ET & R Unit, Ministry of Health.
Now more than 150 doctors enjoy the Research allowance. Dont be misled. Please submit your proposal soon.

Research Proposal
Supporting Documents
Ethics Approval

Research Allowance
Approved
You will be issued a letter like this

DDG/ET & R

Technical Review Committee


Report

DGHS

u
Yo

a
rN

me

Research Allowance
Granted

25% Salary Increase

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Government Medical Ocers Association

Newsletter MAY 2012

Countering the CEPA and now 'SATIS'


GMOA learn that now SATIS is replacing the same objectives of the CEPA agreement.
These trade agreements will affect the all categories of Medical officers and the health sector in general.
Having realized the danger, GMOA has taken following steps
1.

Formation of a specialist Registry

2.

Development of a formal evaluation procedure for foreign medical professionals

3.

To protest

We request you to read the following letters.

FROM CEPA TO SATIS


CEPA stands for Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and SATIS stands for South Asian Trade in
Services. CEPA was to cover trade, manufacturing and services (including professional services) and SATIS
covers only the services. CEPA was envisaged after the failure of SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement).
Sri Lankan business and professional communities strongly protested against CEPA, which was to be entered
into with India during the SAARC Summit in Sri Lanka in 2008. The business community was against it
because Sri Lankan entrepreneurs who started business ventures in India under SAFTA had been treated very
badly India and they had to close down their operations within one year.
SATIS was proposed and signed by all member countries of SAARC in 2010.
Prior to CEPA and SATIS, at a round table conference held in 2003 in Doha, Qatar, the Department of
Commerce (DOC) of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) had submitted to World Trade Organisation (WTO),
under whose guidelines all free trade agreements are drafted, a document containing the offer list of Sri Lanka.
In this document the professional services were not included.
In the list offered by India to Sri Lanka under CEPA all professional services were included and it is the same in
the list offered by India to Sri Lanka under SATIS.
In March 2012 the DOC sent to the OPA a document containing the offer lists of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and
India under SATIS and the Indian list was offered only to Sri Lanka with requests for Market Access (MA) and
National Treatment (NT) and all modes of supply including the presence of natural persons (Mode IV).
Without consulting the professional community of Sri Lanka, the DOC had submitted a document dated 30th
April 2012 and containing the offer lists of Sri Lanka to other member countries of SAARC. It has 11 Main
Sectors and under sub-sectors, Architectural, Engineering, Accountancy and Health Services are included. The
GOSL has also requested MA and NT and all Modes of Supply. The DOC did not table this letter at the meeting
with the professional bodies held on 11th May 2012 but sent to the OPA after 11th may 2012.
If an offer from one country is accepted by another then GOSL has to reciprocate with MA, NT and all modes of
supply including the presence of natural persons from guest country in Sri Lanka.
The Presidents of member associations of the OPA at the meeting held on 27th April 2012 in the OPA auditorium
unanimously agreed that the OPA should protest against the manner in which the DOC is treating the
professionals in Sri Lanka.
The OPA participated in discussions with the DOC on 11th May and 28th May 2012 and prior to these meetings
the OPA sent letters dated 10th May and 26th May 2012 to the DOC protesting against the poor treatment meted
out by the DOC to professionals in Sri Lanka in dealing with SATIS and criticising the double standards of the
DOC by going against the submittal to WTO in Doha, Qatar, in 2003, wherein the professional services were
not included in the offer list of Sri Lanka.
Compiled by Architect Mr. L.T. Kiringoda
President of the Organizations of Professional Associations in Sri Lanka

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Government Medical Ocers Association

Specialist Registry

Foreign Specialist Evaluation

Specialist Registry for Sri Lanka was a long overdue.


We initiated formation of
convening all stake holders.

a Specialist Registry

by

Newsletter MAY 2012

There are about 180 foreign doctors work in Private


Hospitals in Colombo as Super Specialists.
We have formulated formal procedure for evaluating them.

We fulfilled that task within six months and the draft


proposal is now ready for legislation (after a brainstorming
session).

GMOA/SR/COLLEGES
29/04/2012
To:
President, Sri Lanka Medical Council
President, Sri Lanka a Association
Director, Post Graduate Institute of Medicine
Presidents of all Professional Colleges/Associations
Chairmen of all Boards of Studies,
Dear Sir/Madam,
Formation of a Specialist registry in Sri Lanka
I wish to thank you for your kind participation and valuable inputs at the
consensus workshop convened by the Government Medical Officers
Association (GMOA), chaired by the Director General Health Service (DGHS)
held on 18/11/2011 at the Health Ministry Auditorium.
I here with annex following documents for your perusal and valued feedback
on above matter.


Report of the workshop with relevant annexures


Letter from the DGHS requesting feedback
Feedback form to be filled by professional organizations

We kindly request you;


1. To appoint a subcommittee in your organization to study the above matter
2. To fill the feedback form for relevant specialties under your purview
3 .To send the feedback


(a) Hard copy to DGHS


(b) Hard copy to Secretary, GMOA


(c) Softcopy to srgmoa@gmail.com

Please make sure your replies reach us on or before 15thMarch 2012.

GMOA/SR/COLLEGES
05/04/2012
President, Sri Lanka Medical Council,
President, Sri Lanka Medical Association,
Director, Post Graduate Institute of Medicine,
Presidents of all Professional Colleges/Associations,
Chairmen of all Boards of Studies/PGIM,
Dear Sir/Madam,
Evaluation of Foreign Doctors
A policy for employment of foreign doctors is an essential element in any
health system. In Sri Lanka, this process is governed by section 67A of the
Medical Ordinance enacted in 1928. This out-dated legislation allows
leeway for sub-standard foreign doctors to practice in Sri Lanka. Most of
these doctors do not even have a SLMC recognized MBBS degrees but
practice in the private sector as specialist, sub-specialists or even
super-specialists. It has come to our knowledge that over 180 foreign
doctors are practicing in various medical and surgical disciplines in
Colombo. Most have obtained Temporary registration initially under
section 67A and then renewed their registration over the counter
indefinitely Permanent stay with temporary registration!
If the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is
implemented, the situation may become even dire. Therefore the
Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) brought this matter to the
attention of Dr. Ravindra Ruberu, Secretary, Ministry of Health. Upon our
request he appointed a committee comprising of Director General of Health
Services (DGHS), the Director/Private Health sector and representatives of
GMOA and Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to draft a formal evaluation
procedure. In addition, the GMOA has also taken the initiative to develop a
formal Specialist Registry.
Herewith we send you the draft document for a formal evaluation
procedure for licensure of foreign doctors and specialists for your perusal
and suggestions.
We urge your council to carefully dissect section by section of this draft.
Please fill our feedback form attached herewith and send back on or before
10th May 2012 as two hard copies; to the Ministry of Health and the GMOA
with a soft copy to srgmoa@gmail.com.
Thank you.

Please contact Dr. D.C.Rajapaksha 0777701336 or Dr. Sarada Kannangara


0773810794 for clarifications.
Thank you.
Dr Anuruddha Padeniya
President GMOA

Dr. Anurudhdha Padeniya


President GMOA

Cc: To All Specialists

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Government Medical Ocers Association

Newsletter MAY 2012

Fixed Telecommunication Allowance


Now you can enjoy telecommunication allowance as a
fixed allowance.
You can draw the maximum claim limit by submitting bills.
Or
You can claim 2/3 of the maximum limit of the
Telecommunication Allowance as a fixed allowance with
the salary without submitting any bills.
Please fill the application form attached here with and
submit to the head of your institution.
This does not prevent any doctor from claiming
maximum TA by submitting bills.

Injunction order against the strike has been lifted


We defeated injunction order issued on 11th of May, against the island wide strike organized by the GMOA for DAT Allowance. We are
going to file action against the so called patient. Now we are ready to fight for DAT with full strength.

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Government Medical Ocers Association

Newsletter MAY 2012

Our Monthly Progress


Facing anti GMOA activities - Resuscitated the oce (important documents were taken away, GMOA sta was taken away)
Salary issues - Activated GMOA Salary committee (after 3 dormant years)
Professional - Started to expose Malabe so-called PMC (SAITM)
Dignity - Streamline the transfers and transparency was established
Dignity - Stopped sending doctors in ambulances to escort politicians
Transfers - Provided replacements for doctors on transfer orders; minimized stagnation
Transfers - Made temporary transfers transparent with consent of Branch Unions

July 2011
Aug 2011

Sept 2011

Salary - Implemented Telecommunication allowance (based on one year old issued circular by Secretary/Treasury)
despite resistance at every level
Professional - Defeated Supreme Court settlement of AMPs with fraudulent six-month Russian degrees to become doctors.
Transfers - Computerizing annual transfer scheme of Medical Ocers

Oct 2011

Salary - Tax exemption of DAT allowance (Taxation of our salary started in 2010)
Salary - Tax exemption of Extra Duty (Now most Medical Ocers are out of tax range)
Professional - Police Circular issued by IGP preventing undue Police intervention in clinical activities (now police cant
mistreat Doctors)

Nov 2011

Salary - DAT allowance increased by November budget


Professional (CEPA) - Organized Brain storming session on Specialist registry (All professional colleges, PGIM, SLMC,
Ministry top ocials attended)
Professional (CEPA) - Initiated to develop a proper evaluation procedure for foreign doctors (currently 180 Indians
practice as specialists, sub specialists and even as super specialists without basic qualifications)
Professional - Initiated to develop a specialist registry
Professional - Distribution of BNFs to hospitals
Welfare - Special Etisalat internet package for doctors

Dec 2011

Salary - Implementation of Research allowance (25% monthly salary-just after proposal, if published within 2 yearsallowance granted forever, 5 doctors can claim with one proposal)
Professional - Convened Senate of Medical Profession to handle SLMC Issues and political pressure
Transfers - Reactivated previously canceled North East appointment list.
Transfers - Placements for Diploma and MSc holders (DFM, Bio informatics etc)
GMOA Capacity Building - Started Branch union capacity building (by distributing e-codes, circulars, computers etc)
PG - Increased number of PG diplomas from 220 to 350

Jan 2012

Salary & Professional - Implementation of the saturday o in the NW province (Facing internal resistance)
Salary - Research proposal writing workshops island wide ( 1st workshop at LRH)
PG - Duty leave for DFM online course achieved.
PG - MD Part I exams issue; Approval to hold exams twice a year as before & removed restrictions on applications
Professional - Concept of intermediate carder was discussed with PGIM

Feb 2012

Salary - PGIM trainees granted telecommunication allowance


Salary - Telecommunication allowance granted at provincial levels (after trade union threat)
Professional - New MSc Nutrition Implemented
Welfare - Bank of Ceylon Loan scheme improved
PG - Common pass mark for Private and government candidates at PGIM exams ( Eliminated disadvantage to government
candidates)

Mar 2012

Salary - Revision of Extra Duty rates of Medical Ocers after four years (Maximum possible rates were achieved
according to the basic salary)
Service Minute - Corrected salary incremental anomaly in Grade II Medical ocers
Service Minute - Abolished Preliminary Grade and to placed initial salary to Rs. 28095.00
Service Minute - New promotion scheme for grade medical ocers (18 years reduced to 10years)
Service Minute - Salary anomaly correction for specialist medical ocers by placing them in SF salary scale
PG - Reducing charges for PGIM Repeat exams and development of policy frame work for exam fees
PG - Grade promotions for post graduate trainees after completing the part i of MD/MS examinations
Transfers - 50% of Medical Ocer Transfers successfully computerized. So far not a single allegation of irregular transfers

Apr 2012

Schooling - Issuance of letters by Secretary/Education to all 203 parents assuring popular schools. 100% Success
Salary - Research allowance payment initiated on 18th April for first group of doctors
Salary - 18 Research proposal writing workshops completed
Professional - Tremendous success to battle against PMC Malabe
Professional - Agreement of Ministry of Health to increase punishment for Quacks up to 5 years imprisonment
Professional - Eliminate Exit Exams of PG Trainees who did Part II before August 2011
Welfare - SLT Megaline package for Telephone Allowance implemented to get a Fixed Bill
PG - MD Com Med issue; Gained chance to reapply for the entire batch that was dropped
Welfare - Reduced Rs 300 000 from Hyundai local handling charges

For more information, please visit www.gmoa.lk


* Domestic, branch union and day-to-day issues are not listed

- Now

you decide whether we are dormant Page 7

Government Medical Ocers Association

Newsletter MAY 2012

Illegal Medical Practitioners (Quacks)


We have been taking actions to eliminate 40,000 Illegal
Medical Practitioners in our country.
First we negotiated with department of police to issue
circular to trace quacks.

However, all our efforts were not fruitful because


punishment for Illegal Medical Practice is a small fine. Hence
once penalised, quacks pay a trivial fine and resume their
illegal practice.
GMOA proposed a minimum 5 years of imprisonment for
Quacks which was accepted by Ministry of Health. MOH s and
Police will act in the future to eradicate quacks. The legal
draft is under discussion now

We proposed a
practical solution!

No credible allegations to investigate against GMOA president

20/05/2012
04/05/2012

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