Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapakshe yesterday accused the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) of being hypocrites, engaging in private practice while opposing private education.

The Justice Minister made this comment while participating in the debate in Parliament yesterday, on the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act.

He alleged that GMOA members made their money through private practice, even while opposing the SAITM private medical faculty.

“Why don’t these doctors protest about the standards at government medical facilities?” Justice Minister Rajapakshe asked. “Why do they denigrate the standards of the SAITM private campus instead?”

“The GMOA calls the SAITM a ‘degree-selling-shop’, but it is GMOA doctors themselves who respond to adverts to teach at SAITM,” he further alleged, defending the government’s responsibility to expand opportunities for education.