Sri Lanka doctors want salary of Rs. 200,000 per month

Sri Lanka Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) demands a massive pay hike up to Rs. 200,000 per month.

The Secretary of GMOA, Bimantha Gunasekara demanding the raise told the media that such a pay hike is necessary to avoid brain drain.

He pointed out that the starting salary of a medical officer is Rs. 26,000 and the starting salary of a medical specialist is Rs. 42,000. The GMOA argues the salaries are insufficient and urges the government to increase salaries fro the medical profession from the next budget.

The medical officers further argue that unless the salaries are raised the doctors will tend to join the private sector instead of going for service in rural areas causing collapse of health service in rural hospitals.