By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government was planning to reduce the salaries of those in the health sector by 15 percent, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) spokesman, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said yesterday.
“On 13 February, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health issued a circular instructing the reduction of our salaries by 15 percent. The Ministry of Finance has only asked for a six percent cut and how can the Secretary to the Ministry of Health take such a decision?” he asked.
Dr. Wijesinghe said that the entire health sector was already in crisis. Most health sector workers found it difficult to make ends meet and a lot of people are leaving the country, he said.
Secretary of the GMOA Dr. Haritha Aluthge said that there was a serious shortage of drugs in hospitals and immediate action was needed to prevent the collapse of the health sector.
“Everyone in the health sector has been talking about this for almost 18 months, but the government has allowed things to deteriorate further,” he said.