GMOA strike for telephone allowance

31 January 2012 06:57 am

Government doctors in all provincial hospitals in the Colombo District are on a token strike today owing to the failure of the government to provide a telephone allowances to the doctors.

The Homagama, Avissawella, Mulleriyawa and Angoda base hospitals are on strike. In addition to that nine divisional hospitals, 26 primary care units and 12 MOH offices are also on strike.

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said that a treasury circular was issued in July 2010 according to which consultants and administrators are entitled to a Rs.12,000 telephone allowance while grade medical officers are entitled to a telephone allowance of Rs.6,000.

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Nalin Ariyarathne said many doctors in a number of provinces have not received the allowance.

Meanwhile the GMOA recently held discussions with President Rajapaksa requesting to increase the Disturbance, Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance from Rs.12,500 to Rs.30,000. (Olindhi Jayasundere)