A press release issued by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) is shown here.
Press Release
A proposal presented by the Government Medical Officers Association for Budget 2025, aiming to secure free healthcare by encouraging doctors to stay in the country.
Free healthcare and free education are the largest investments in Sri Lankan history in creating a stable state and a strong workforce.
Even in all the difficult times in history, the most crucial factor in maintaining the stability of the country’s healthcare system and providing high-quality healthcare services on par with developed countries is the health staff led by specialists and doctors.
In the face of the economic and political instability in the country, over 2,000 doctors have been lost due to inadequate salaries and an unfavorable professional environment, and over 5,000 are preparing to leave. If this trend continues, the collapse of the country’s hospital system will be inevitable.
Therefore, there is a dire need for a short-term, medium-term, and long-term program that provides economic justice and equity to doctors, builds a good professional environment, encourages them to stay in the country, and further strengthens the free healthcare system.
Also, creative and sustainable strategies should be identified to generate revenue through the healthcare system while securing the fundamentals of free health service.
The Government Medical Officers Association has submitted a proposal to the Hon. President and the government, requesting that the 2025 Budget document, which will be presented to Parliament in the near future, be included in the proposal.
1. Proposals to Encourage Doctors to Stay in the Country and Attract Them to the Public Service
- Introduction of a special salary structure based on qualifications, performance, and market value for all categories of doctors.
- Updating the Disruption, Stay, and Transport (DAT) allowance for doctors.
- Incorporation of all categories of doctors into Circular 22/99, which provides transport facilities to other executive officers in the public service.
- Establishing a methodology that resolves the practical problems faced by doctors in earning additional duty allowances.
- Updating the living allowance provided to postgraduate-trained doctors during overseas training.
- Increase in the monthly allowance for intern doctors.
- Correcting anomalies in the promotion system for doctors in all categories.
- Facilitating the import of motor vehicles under duty-free licenses for professionals, including doctors.
- Reintroducing the pension system for all government employees, including doctors.
- Updating the number of approved doctors in health service institutions.
- Developing infrastructure, including official residences, in health service institutions.
2. Introducing a Fair and Transparent Tax Policy
- Revising the pay-as-you-go tax structure.
- Increasing the tax-free monthly income limit from Rs. 100,000.00 to Rs. 200,000.00.
- Revising the percentage of tax income brackets from 6% – 36% to 4% – 24%.
- Adjusting the value of annual income brackets subject to taxation from Rs. 500,000.00 to Rs. 600,000.00.
- Recognizing professionals as a special category in the existing tax structure and introducing a fair system instead of imposing taxes on the entire salary of professionals.
- Implementing a transparent system with an accountability mechanism in spending tax money.
3. Proposals for Generating Income Based on the Concept of a Knowledge Economy
- Generating income through the establishment of hospitals (Centers of Excellence) that provide international-level health services.
- Earning foreign exchange by providing opportunities for all categories of doctors to serve abroad through a special leave system.
- Recognizing clinical medicine as a field of postgraduate study and expanding opportunities in the sector.
Protecting the Sri Lankan free health service, which ensures the right to life for the people, is an inalienable responsibility of any government and ruler.
The aim of the Government Medical Officers Association through this proposal is to ensure the advancement of Sri Lanka’s free health service by encouraging doctors to stay in the country, protecting them, and ensuring their safety.
It is important to identify the issues and priorities contained in this proposal and implement them within a set timeframe. Some proposals require urgent implementation, while others can be carried out within a structured timeline.
The GMOA looks forward to initiating discussions with the President, the Minister of Health, and other responsible authorities regarding the content of this proposal and the strategies for its implementation. The GMOA also pledges its maximum support for the revival of the free healthcare system and the creation of a healthy and prosperous future generation.
