Sri Lanka, Aug. 25 -- The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) has decided to call off their island-wide token strike, which was scheduled to commence at 8:00 a.m. today (August 25) in all government hospitals.

The decision to call off the strike follows discussions and a written assurance from the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

Meanwhile, on August 24, the GMOA noted that the strike is being launched considering the risk of hospitals in remote areas closing down, the direct influence exerted by the government on patients to purchase scarce medicines, and the threat of the collapse of the free healthcare system caused by the failure to provide hospitals with quality medicines and essential equipment...