GMOA says DAT allowance not enough

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The government’s decision to increase the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance of doctors might incentivise a young doctor to stay in the country, but it will not be adequate to keep medical consultants here, Secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), Dr. Haritha Aluthge says.

“They can go abroad and make three million rupees. The increase in DAT wouldn’t be an adequate incentive,” he said.

However, this decision was a welcome step in ensuring economic justice and can be seen as a first step in retaining doctors in the country.He said that for the last 18 months, the GMOA had been asking the government for a salary hike.

The government has also taken several steps to help doctors in the 2024 budget, including a decision to expand the opportunities given to doctors for postgraduate studies.

Dr. Aluthge said that the DAT allowance for doctors had been Rs. 35,000.

“The Cabinet decided to increase DAT to 70,000,” he said.

Dr. Aluthge said that some health sector unions had launched a strike following the increase in DAT allowance for doctors.

“These unions have asked for a salary increase of Rs 20,000 for the state sector. There were no other demands. The government has agreed to give a salary hike of Rs 10,000. We have got only 35,000. Now these unions also want a 35,000 rupee hike,” he said.

Dr. Aluthge said that there were many grades and categories in the state sector.

“When salaries of Supreme Court judges are increased, the office assistants do not demand a similar salary hike,” he said.

The GMOA secretary said that out of the 35,000 DAT allowance, the government would take about Rs 7,000 as tax.