The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the House and the country know that a group of paramedical and allied health professionals have launched a 24-hour token strike, alleging that their allowances have been cut under the new pay adjustment. After they raised this, I met them as the Minister. On the 6th, when they had a work stoppage, our Ministry’s Vote Head was under debate; I pointed out the lack of meaning in striking on that day. They asked for a meeting with the Ministry of Finance. We facilitated a discussion yesterday morning at 10.00 a.m. However, they did not approach that meeting in good faith to decide on the strike based on solutions; they had already decided to continue the strike regardless, and promptly announced continuation immediately after the meeting.

¶ 02 In health, even partial withdrawal of services affects the sector. What is their grievance? This Government has granted a significant basic salary increase to paramedical and allied health professionals. Historically, successive governments added various components to pay; ultimately, for an officer who used to receive about Rs. 32,080 as basic, we have raised it to Rs. 54,120—an increase of Rs. 22,040. For a basic of Rs. 37,190, we added Rs. 26,120; for a basic of Rs. 44,520, we added Rs. 32,010; and for a basic of Rs. 58,590, we added Rs. 43,320. Consequently, overtime, holiday pay and other allowances that are computed on basic have also risen. Even bank loans consider basic pay. This is a tangible improvement.

¶ 03 Not all paramedical and allied health professionals have joined the strike; unions representing many are at work, and services are being provided. While these professionals have obtained precise calculations down to the last rupee, taxpayers who fund these salaries often do not know how much tax they pay. Public sector salaries are paid from citizens’ taxes.

¶ 04 It is unfair that an elderly outpatient who sees a doctor and receives a prescription cannot get medicines at the pharmacy due to a strike and has to go home empty-handed. If the Government had failed to be fair, a strike could be understood. But after a fair increase and within four months, to paralyze services is not justifiable. Dialogue remains open. Also, we can only grant what the economy can bear; demands pegged to Australian or UK pay scales are unrealistic in our current context. We have already provided Rs. 110 billion in overall pay increases to the public service, rising to Rs. 330 billion over the next 18 months. Therefore, placing patients’ lives at risk through such token strikes is unjust.

¶ 05 It has been alleged that I am using unions to break the strike. The Government’s duty is to protect those who continue to serve patients during a strike. I have instructed all heads of institutions to ensure the safety of such staff who are bearing a higher workload to serve the public. Politically motivated attempts to embarrass the Government by compromising patient care are unacceptable.

¶ 06 Finally, I invite the striking professionals to discuss their genuine issues rather than endangering patients. If someone says only the “rate” matters and not the basic—even when the rate and OT have increased—that is unfair to their own colleagues and to the public. I urge all, including the Opposition, to assess the real extent of the increases and to refrain from supporting actions that hold citizens’ lives hostage. Thank you.