Health unions strike despite Finance Ministry assurances

Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana yesterday (13) said that the Finance Ministry has proposed a system to address the demands of the striking health sector trade unions within the limited fiscal space but the trade unions have not agreed with those proposals.

Speaking to the media at the Health Ministry, Minister Pathirana urged striking health workers to return to work considering the difficulties faced by the public.

Health Sector trade unions resumed their trade union action yesterday (13) claiming that the discussions held with the Finance Ministry regarding their demand for the DAT allowance for all healthcare personnel unsuccessful.

Earlier last month, the Cabinet approved the proposal forwarded by the President to double the DAT allowance for doctors, raising it from Rs. 35,000 to Rs.70,000.

After that, the trade unions representing a wide range of health sector professionals including those in professions supplementary to medicine and the paramedical services such as radiology and laboratory technicians, pharmacists and drug compounders, midwives, dental surgeons, public health inspectors, and entomology officers, and excluding doctors and nurses engaged in strikes on multiple occasions demanding an allowance.

But health sector trade unions decided to postpone the strike planned for February 7 by a week, following discussions held with the Finance Ministry Secretary.

During the discussion, a committee comprising officials from the Finance Ministry, the Health Ministry, and professionals, had been appointed in order to deliberate on the proposal submitted by the trade unions.

As a result, a discussion was held with the relevant professionals on Monday under the patronage of the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena and during that meeting the Ministry of Finance officials proposed certain proposals. But the trade unions did not agree with them.

Minister Pathirana said that the health sector trade unions held discussions with the Ministry of Health when this problem first arose. Since this issue is a financial matter, it was linked to the Ministry of Finance. The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance discussed this matter with the trade unions and based on an agreement, it was decided to appoint a committee with the Ministry of Finance to discuss the matter again.

“Considering the difficulties faced by all government employees, the President has already taken measures to increase the salaries of public servants by Rs. 10,000. Part of that has already been given.The full amount will be received after April. The Finance Ministry has to pay two salaries for public servants in April. The Finance Ministry has clearly explained this situation,”the Minister said.

He further said that the service of each professional is very valuable to us. They have done a great service for the improvement of the health service in this country. The matter of giving a special allowance to doctors and university professors has been done all along. About 1,300 doctors have left the country. This allowance has been given to them considering that they are a section that will be greatly affected by the tax crisis. A large part of the money from this allowance is taxed back to the government.

Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala and Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena participated in this press conference.

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