The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has issued a stern warning to authorities, demanding the immediate release of a corrected circular on additional duty allowances failing which, it will launch trade union action.
In a press release, the GMOA said that despite an agreement with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and a Ministry of Public Administration circular issued on March 25, 2025, to restore previously slashed duty and holiday allowances for doctors, the Ministry of Health’s follow-up circular dated April 28 was riddled with errors and omissions.
The GMOA claims the circular miscalculated allowances and violated basic policy and technical standards. Though Health Ministry officials, including the Secretary and other key figures, agreed in a meeting held on April 29 to rectify the circular immediately, the promised corrections have not materialized even two months later.
As a result, doctors across the country are facing serious issues in claiming their rightful allowances, adding to the challenges already burdening the health sector.
The GMOA’s Executive Council accuses unnamed forces within the system of deliberately undermining decisions made by the President and Parliament. It warns that unless the corrected circular is released within a week, industrial action will be launched to protect doctors’ rights and restore the integrity of the health service.
