brand logo

Executive-grade health workers’ salaries reduced

26 May 2022

  • Consultants threaten to refrain from extra duties
  • GMOA meets Keheliya, Treasury Secy over matter; seeks probe against Health Ministry CFO
  • Treasury Secy promises to credit deducted amount within week
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The salaries of Executive Grade health workers including Medical Officers (MOs), Consultants, and Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs), which were credited to banks early this week, have been largely reduced, as their Extra Duty Allowance (EDA) has been calculated as being equivalent to their basic salary. An MO working at a Government hospital whose basic salary is Rs. 54,000 told The Morning that his EDA for the month of April, which he received with his salary this month, had been reduced to Rs. 54,000. However, he said that he should have been paid the EDA allowance of around Rs. 80,000 for the extra hours that he had worked. Meanwhile, a Consultant working in a leading Government hospital, also speaking to The Morning, claimed that approximately Rs. 75,000 has been deducted from his salary, which was remitted to the bank early this week. As a result, he said that the salary of a Consultant and that of a MO had become the same. He also said that if this is to continue, they would not engage in any extra duty hereafter. In a letter dated 13 May, which was seen by The Morning, Ministry of Health Chief Financial Officer (CFO) D.C. Wickramasena had instructed the Deputy Director of the National Hospital of Colombo and all other Hospital Directors to calculate the executive-grade health workers' EDA allowance as being equivalent to their basic salary. Meanwhile, it was reported that the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has held discussions with Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Secretary to the Finance Ministry and Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana in this regard. Sources from the GMOA told The Morning that the Treasury Secretary has agreed to repay the deducted amount, and that the monies would be credited to their bank accounts within a week. The GMOA has also requested the Health Minister to conduct an investigation into the Health Ministry's CFO for instructing the accountants of the hospitals to reduce the allowances. Speaking to the media recently, GMOA General Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando claimed that despite Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe having stated that in the current crisis situation, the salaries of public servants would be paid without any cuts, the Health Ministry's CFO and certain other officials were working to unjustly curtail health workers’ salaries. Dr. Fernando further claimed that such efforts show that a programme is being implemented to further harass and frustrate health workers, thereby creating an unnecessary crisis and unrest in the health sector.

Kapruka

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!


More News..