Special committee formed to address demands of health sector trade unions

Representatives from health sector trade unions and Minister of Health Dr. Ramesh Pathirana have agreed to form a special committee to look into the demands by the health workers.

The decision was made during the meeting between the Health and Technology Union of America (HTUA) and the Minister this morning (19), in an attempt to address the disparities in allowances.

Ravi Kumudesh, President of Joint Council for Professions of Supplementary to Medicine said  that the Minister of Health had vowed to address the requests of the Health Trade Union Alliance.

The Ministry of Health in a statement announced the appointment of a special committee to examine the demands of the health sector trade unions.

The committee, including the Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Minister of Health Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, and members of the Health Trade Union Alliance (HTUA) is scheduled to convene tomorrow (20), at 3:00 p.m.

The unions’ main demand is to provide supplementary health workers with an allowance similar to the Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) payment that was previously granted to physicians.

Health sector unions have decided not to initiate any strike actions for the time being.

The Minister had further instructed the HTUA to submit a proposal to the Ministry that includes their demands, according to a statement released by the Ministry in this respect.

The complete statement released by the Ministry of Health is attached below: