Sri Lanka's government pharmacists have announced a one-day trade union action beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, 31 August, over an unresolved dispute concerning an additional-service allowance.
The Government Pharmacists' Association says the dispute concerns the treatment of the allowance paid for additional service by pharmacists and the withdrawal of a Health Ministry circular relating to the issue.
The association says it will proceed with the strike unless an acceptable resolution is reached before Monday.
Some hospitals to be exempted
Association President Ajith P. Thilakaratne said maternity and children's hospitals, cancer hospitals and mental-health institutions would be exempted from the trade union action on humanitarian grounds.
The association also says arrangements will be made in other government hospitals to maintain emergency and essential pharmaceutical services, with chief pharmacists expected to coordinate with hospital directors.
Patients could nevertheless experience disruption to routine pharmacy services if the strike proceeds as announced.
What is the dispute?
According to the association, the Health Secretary had issued a circular changing the official designation of pharmacists' overtime-related payment to an "additional service allowance."
The association says that circular was subsequently cancelled and that authorities have not provided an acceptable solution to its concerns.
The pharmacists are calling for the disputed arrangement to be restored.
The Health Ministry's detailed position on the association's allegations should be included if an authoritative response is issued.
Advice for patients
Patients who require routine medicines from government hospitals on Monday should follow any instructions issued by their hospital or the Ministry of Health if the trade union action proceeds.
Emergency and essential services are expected to continue under arrangements announced by the pharmacists' association.