Doctors are set to get an increment of around Rs. 37,000 to their basic salary over the next two years, as proposed in the 2025 Budget currently being debated in Parliament. The minimum basic salary of Medical Officers (MOs), according to the Government, which currently stands at around Rs. 54,000, is expected to rise to Rs. 91,000 by 2027.

While the Government highlights these salary hikes as a historic move to improve doctors’ earnings, medical unions have raised concerns over revisions to allowances, arguing that certain payments for extra duty, public holidays, and overtime have been devalued.

As per the Budget proposals, the revised salary structure varies based on roles and experience, ensuring that medical professionals in different grades receive substantial increments.

Medical officers (SL 2 – 2025) will start with a salary of Rs. 91,750, with increments of Rs. 2,400 for the first three years, followed by Rs. 2,420 for seven years, then Rs. 2,940 for two years, and Rs. 3,900 for 16 years, reaching a maximum salary of Rs. 184,170. 

Senior executives and medical specialists (SL 3 – 2025) will begin at Rs. 156,000, receiving an increment of Rs. 4,850 for 12 years, leading to a maximum salary of Rs. 214,200. Secretaries (SL 4 – 2025) will start at Rs. 175,000, with an increment of Rs. 5,300 over 12 years, reaching Rs. 238,600.

However, the Budget has introduced changes to allowances. The daily pay allowance, previously set at 1/20 of the monthly basic salary, will now be revised to 1/30, effective from 1 April. The hourly extra duty allowance for medical doctors will be revised from 1/80 of the monthly basic salary to 1/120. Similarly, the hourly overtime (OT) rate for nurses, paramedical staff, and allied staff will be reduced from 1/160 of the monthly basic salary to 1/200.

Govt. expresses its stance 

Addressing the matter in Parliament on Tuesday (4), Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that, given the significant salary increases granted through the Budget, it would be unfair for doctors to resort to trade union action. He reaffirmed that the Government remained open to discussions on healthcare sector concerns.

Responding to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), which announced a strike over reductions in allowances, Dr. Jayatissa pointed out that Opposition politicians, including the Leader of the Opposition, had recently met with GMOA representatives. 

He also highlighted that a former trade union leader affiliated with the previous administration had called for a nurses’ protest just two days after the Budget was presented, despite the salary increases already outlined.

Reflecting on past events, Dr. Jayatissa acknowledged that doctors had continued their service during various national crises, with some choosing to leave the country while others played a role in supporting the recent Government transition. He emphasised that, for the first time in history, public sector salaries had been increased rather than just allowances, ensuring greater fairness.

The Minister also compared the current administration’s actions with those of the previous Government. In 2023, the GMOA had met then President Ranil Wickremesinghe to request an increase in allowances, but had been informed that any such adjustments would require negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Despite this, doctors had not protested. 

In contrast, the current administration had approved salary hikes without any prior demands from medical professionals, incorporating increases in basic salaries, special duty allowances, holiday allowances, annual increments, and tax relief on supplementary earnings, the Minister said.

Other salary adjustments 

Other medical officer categories will also see significant adjustments. The basic salary for second-grade medical officers will increase from Rs. 58,305 to Rs. 101,370, an increment of Rs. 43,065. First-grade medical officers will receive a Rs. 53,865 increase, raising their salaries from Rs. 71,805 to Rs. 125,670. Junior specialists will see their salaries rise from Rs. 88,000 to Rs. 156,000, an increment of Rs. 68,000.

Further adjustments include increases for Grade 1 preliminary medical officers, whose salaries will rise from Rs. 56,960 to Rs. 98,950, reflecting a Rs. 41,990 increment. MO Grade 2 salaries will increase from Rs. 63,685 to Rs. 111,050 (Rs. 47,365 increment), while MO Grade 2 (Advanced) salaries will rise from Rs. 69,635 to Rs. 121,770 (Rs. 52,135 increment). 

MO Grade 1 officers will see their salaries increase from Rs. 80,485 to Rs. 141,270 (Rs. 60,785 increment), and MO Grade 1 (Advanced) officers will experience an increment of Rs. 65,973, increasing their salary from Rs. 86,695 to Rs. 152,970. 

Senior MO Grade 1 officers will receive an increase from Rs. 93,505 to Rs. 164,670 (Rs. 71,165 increment), while MO Grade 1 (Specialist Entry Level) salaries will rise from Rs. 100,015 to Rs. 176,370 (Rs. 76,355 increment). The highest increase will be for MO Grade 1 (Senior Specialist) officers, whose salaries will be revised from Rs. 104,315 to Rs. 184,170, marking a substantial increase of Rs. 79,815.

Duty-related allowances have also been revised. General medical officers will now receive Rs. 765, up from Rs. 687, while second-grade medical officers’ allowance will increase from Rs. 796 to Rs. 925. First-grade medical officers will receive Rs. 1,307, up from Rs. 1,101, and junior specialists will see their duty allowances increase from Rs. 1,302 to Rs. 1,542.

Leave-related allowances have also been adjusted. General medical officers will now receive Rs. 3,138, reflecting a Rs. 423.50 increase from the previous Rs. 2,714.50. Second-grade medical officers’ allowance will rise from Rs. 2,915 to Rs. 3,379, while Grade 1 MOs will see an increase from Rs. 3,590 to Rs. 4,189. Junior specialists will receive an additional Rs. 800, bringing their allowance from Rs. 4,400 to Rs. 5,200.

Annual salary increments have been significantly raised. Increments previously set at Rs. 1,335 will now be Rs. 2,400, while those at Rs. 1,340 will rise to Rs. 2,420. Similarly, increments of Rs. 1,630 will now be Rs. 2,940, and those at Rs. 2,170 will increase to Rs. 3,900.

The Government has also introduced tax relief measures to ease financial burdens on medical professionals. Those earning between Rs. 100,000 and Rs. 150,000, who previously paid Rs. 35,000-40,000 in taxes, are now fully exempt. Those earning salaries up to Rs. 200,000 will enjoy 72% tax relief, while those earning salaries up to Rs. 250,000 will receive 62% tax relief. Those earning Rs. 300,000 will benefit from 47% tax relief.

Resurfacing concerns in the system 

Despite these benefits, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has expressed concern over the devaluation of extra duty rates as well as public holiday and Sunday payments. 

AMS President Dr. A.D.K.S.N. Yasawardena and General Secretary Dr. R. Gnanasekeram highlighted the severe impact on uninterrupted healthcare services and urged the Government to address these concerns. They also stressed the need for proper transport allowances and fair compensation for mandatory after-hours work.

GMOA Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe stressed that the issue was not about salary figures but about dignity. 

“Medical professionals are intellectual labourers and no previous government has reduced allowances through a budget, except this one,” he said. 

He highlighted that doctors worked 24 hours but were only paid for six hours worth of allowances per day, with a cap of 120 hours per month. Even if they work all holidays in a month, they receive allowances for only three, including weekends.

The severe brain drain in the healthcare sector, which escalated during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, has slowed as healthcare workers placed faith in the new Government and temporarily halted migration plans. 

However, with these recent developments, concerns about losing hope in the system are resurfacing, according to the GMOA.