gmoa newsletter may

Government Medical Officers’ Association MAY 2012

275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 07 Tel: 2580886 / 2503586/ 0714999555/ 0777599280 FAX: 4518668/2503586 GMOA Web : www.gmoa.lk Email : [email protected] : [email protected]

HOTLINE: Dr Samantha Ananda - 0777666301 Dr Naveen De Zoysa - 0772928119

For private circulation among members only

NEWSLETTERGMOA TODAY

GMOA Head Office275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 07 Tel: 2580886 / 2503586/ 0714999555/ 0777599280 FAX: 4518668/2503586GMOA Web : www.gmoa.lk Email# : [email protected] : [email protected]

CMB/002/08/N.P.O

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

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.

Fixed Telecommunication Allowance (2/3 fixed)

• 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.

Research Allowance( 25% of salary)

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

Extra Duty Revision

• 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.

Code Of Conduct For Police When Dealing With Clinicians

• 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.

Countering “CEPA” and now “SATIS”

• 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.

Illegal Medical Practitioners

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

No credible Allegations to investigate against GMOA President

• 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.

Injunction Order Against The Strike Has Been Lifted

Government Medical Officers’ Association # Newsletter MAY 2012

Code of conduct for police when dealing with cliniciansIn 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 can’t 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 can’t 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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Research Allowance • 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. Don’t be misled. Please submit your proposal soon.

– Now more than 150 Doctors Enjoy RA

Research Allowance Granted

25% Salary Increase

DGHS

DDG/ET & R

Research ProposalSupporting Documents

Ethics Approval

Technical Review Committee Report

Research Allowance Approved

You will be issued a letter like this

Your Name


• 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 Registry2. Development of a formal evaluation procedure for foreign medical professionals3. To protest

• We request you to read the following letters.

Countering the CEPA and now 'SATIS'

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


Specialist Registry Foreign Specialist Evaluation • Specialist Registry for Sri Lanka was a long overdue.

• We initiated formation of a Specialist Registry by convening all stake holders.

• We fulfilled that task within six months and the draft proposal is now ready for legislation (after a brainstorming session).

GMOA/SR/COLLEGES29/04/2012

To:President, Sri Lanka Medical CouncilPresident, Sri Lanka a AssociationDirector, Post Graduate Institute of MedicinePresidents of all Professional Colleges/AssociationsChairmen 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 matter2. To fill the feedback form for relevant specialties under your purview3 .To send the feedback (a) Hard copy to DGHS (b) Hard copy to Secretary, GMOA (c) Softcopy to [email protected] Please make sure your replies reach us on or before 15thMarch 2012.

Please contact Dr. D.C.Rajapaksha 0777701336 or Dr. Sarada Kannangara 0773810794 for clarifications. Thank you.

Dr. Anurudhdha PadeniyaPresident GMOA

• There are about 180 foreign doctors work in Private Hospitals in Colombo as “Super Specialists”.

• We have formulated formal procedure for evaluating them.

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 [email protected].

Thank you.

Dr Anuruddha Padeniya President GMOA

Cc: To All Specialists

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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 liftedWe 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.


July 2011Aug 2011

• Facing anti GMOA activities - Resuscitated the office (important documents were taken away, GMOA staff 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

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 AMP’s with fraudulent six-month Russian degrees to become doctors. • Transfers - Computerizing annual transfer scheme of Medical Officers

Oct 2011

• Salary - Tax exemption of DAT allowance (Taxation of our salary started in 2010)• Salary - Tax exemption of Extra Duty (Now most Medical Officers 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 officials 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 quali#cations)• 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 years- allowance 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 off 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 Officers after four years (Maximum possible rates were achieved according to the basic salary)

• Service Minute - Corrected salary incremental anomaly in Grade II Medical officers• Service Minute - Abolished Preliminary Grade and to placed initial salary to Rs. 28095.00• Service Minute - New promotion scheme for grade medical officers (18 years reduced to 10years)• Service Minute - Salary anomaly correction for specialist medical officers 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 Officer 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 #rst 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

Our Monthly Progress

* Domestic, branch union and day-to-day issues are not listed - Now you decide whether we are dormant

For more information, please visit www.gmoa.lk

http://www.gmoa.lk

http://www.gmoa.lk


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 a 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

04/05/201220/05/2012

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