Government Dental Surgeons Association to Proceed with Islandwide Token Strike

The Government Dental Surgeons Association has announced its plans to proceed with a 24-hour token strike on November 6, despite the Health Ministry's claims of having provided sufficient solutions to resolve the outstanding issues. The association's demands include changing the current director of dental services and implementing inquiries into their conduct, as well as addressing administrative failures and implementing critical service reforms. The strike is expected to disrupt all routine work and services, except for emergencies, and will be participated by dental surgeons and consultants who perform dental surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• The Government Dental Surgeons Association has announced a 24-hour token strike on November 6, despite the Health Ministry's claims of having provided sufficient solutions to resolve the outstanding issues.
• The association's demands include changing the current director of dental services and implementing inquiries into their conduct, as well as addressing administrative failures.
• The association is concerned about 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.
• The director is accused of obstructing several critical service reforms, including the necessary groundwork for cadre expansion proposals, the national oral health survey, and updating procurement policies.
• The association claims that annual transfers are supposed to be completed by January of each year, but due to the non-activation of the digital system, dental surgeons have been stuck in rural postings for up to five or six years instead of the required four years.
• About 100 dental surgeons have resigned and gone into private practice due to the situation.
• The association also claims that the director has allegedly harassed support staff who have resigned citing mental stress and workload.

Statistics:

• The strike is expected to disrupt all routine work and services, except for emergencies.
• The strike will be participated by dental surgeons and consultants who perform dental surgery, including Grade and Consultant Dental Surgeons.
• Up to 100 dental surgeons have resigned and gone into private practice due to the situation.
• The annual transfer list of Grade and Consultant Dental Surgeons was prepared but deliberately not submitted to the Public Service Commission.
• The digital system used for annual transfers has been dismantled.
• The director is accused of obstructing several critical service reforms, including the necessary groundwork for cadre expansion proposals, the national oral health survey, and updating procurement policies.

Sources:

• Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe told the Sunday Times that the ministry had provided sufficient solutions to resolve the outstanding issues.
• Dr. Nadun Dhammika, the association's president, stated that there was "absolutely no solution and the association will go ahead with the strike as planned".
• The Sunday Times
• The association's demands and concerns were outlined by Dr. Dhammika in the statement.