Sri Lanka, Jan. 29 -- Patients were caught in the middle as disruptions to government hospital services continued for a fourth day amid ongoing tensions between doctors and health authorities.

From 8.00 a.m. on Monday (26), the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) withdrew from several routine services, including prescribing medicines to be purchased from external pharmacies and recommending laboratory tests outside government hospitals.

Although emergency services were maintained, thousands of patients dependent on daily public healthcare were left facing delays, inconvenience and uncertainty.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa said the trade union action was prompted by the Health Ministry...