The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has declared an indefinite strike set to commence from tomorrow, January 24. The decision comes as a response to the government’s temporary suspension of the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance, starting at 08:00 a.m. tomorrow, as confirmed by the GMOA.
The GMOA asserts that the strike decision was prompted by information indicating the government’s reluctance to fulfill its promise of providing the increased DAT allowance of Rs. 35,000 from January onwards.
On January 08, the Cabinet of Ministers approved President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal to double the DAT allowance for government doctors, elevating it from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 70,000.
In the aftermath of this decision, various health sector employee trade unions representing a diverse spectrum of professionals such as radiology and laboratory technicians, pharmacists, drug compounders, midwives, Public Health Inspectors, and entomology officers have initiated multiple strikes, protesting the government’s stance and demanding a comprehensive allowance increase for all health sector employees.
