In a coordinated move, trade unions representing five professions within the Supplementary Medical Service sector have initiated a 24-hour token strike commencing this morning (August 23).
The island-wide trade union action, scheduled from 8:00 a.m. today until 8:00 a.m. on Friday (August 25), encompasses the participation of radio technologists, medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. The strike has been launched as a collective effort to press the authorities into addressing their concerns.
This industrial action is anticipated to impact critical medical services, including X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and laboratory procedures at hospitals, as well as the distribution of medicines.
The president of the Joint Council for Professions of Supplementary Medicine, Ravi Kumudesh, elaborated on the situation, indicating that the strike is rooted in seven distinct demands. However, he also reassured the public that certain medical facilities such as children’s hospitals, maternity hospitals, cancer hospitals, nephrology hospitals, and the National Institute of Mental Health would remain unaffected by the token strike.
As the strike unfolds, stakeholders within the healthcare sector are closely watching the developments, hoping for a resolution that meets the demands of the trade unions while minimizing the impact on essential medical services.
