The Sri Lanka Freedom Health Service Union has charged the Ministry of Health of transferring trade union leaders who have identified shortcomings in the coronavirus mitigation efforts.
The Union said a member who revealed to the country of an irregularity in vaccinations at the National Eye Hospital has also been transferred.
Speaking during a media briefing today, the Union Chairman and National Organiser Sumith Hemantha urged the government to suspend their current course of action instead of forcing unions to protest and hold strike actions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hemantha said doctors at the Eye Hospital misappropriated COVID-vaccines reserved by the Health Ministry for health staff, and administered them to family members, associates, and clinic patients.
He said the revelation made by Duminda Nirmal caused panic within the Government Medical Officers’ Association, who temporarily halted the vaccination drive and transferred Nirmal to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
Hemantha said they are capable of engaging in trade union action for days if not weeks adding however they will not do so as they do not wish to inconvenience the public.
He requested the government to conduct a formal investigation when the pandemic is mitigated.
