The current government has put doctors in a very difficult situation through the budget, unlike any previous government, and the government, which also received the support of doctors, has put doctors in a difficult situation, said Dr. Rukshan Bellana, Chairman of the Government Medical Officers’ Association and Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital.
Dr. Rukshan Bellana, who said that the government has taken steps to prepare the budget by even taking the rank of doctors lightly, also stated that no budget has ever put public servants in such a difficult situation.
He said that more than 80 percent of doctors supported the appointment of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government and that about 15 doctors are serving as members of parliament in the Malima government.
He stated that the gross salary of doctors has also been reduced through the Act and that the additional service allowance of doctors was 80th of the basic salary and the holiday allowance was 20th of the basic salary, while in the budget these allowances have been reduced to 120th of 1 and 30th of 1 respectively.
The Chairman of the Government Medical Officers’ Association and Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, further stated that the Government Medical Officers’ Association is ready to support any step taken by the Government Medical Officers’ Association in any way regarding this issue.