Health sector pay hike only applicable to local workers

National Pay Commission’s Chairman Mohamed Faizal, on Sunday night, stated that the pay hike for health sector workers will only be applicable to locals.

Speaking at a joint press conference held by the Pay Commission, Health Ministry and Gender Ministry to brief the public regarding pay hike for health sector workers on Sunday night – Faizal said the workers being shifted to the new pay framework will not include expatriates.

“A total of 3,701 Maldivian staff will be shifted (to the new pay framework). They include 20 staff in regional hospitals, 471 staff in atoll hospitals, 965 staff in health centers, 1,004 staff in IGMH, 298 staff in Hulhumale’ Hospital and 452 other staff,” he detailed.

Faizal said the new salary structure of the health sector was formulated by the government by prioritizing increasing local doctors who specialize in treating major illnesses such as cancer while it was also considered to encourage all health sector workers to at least attain the qualification of a first degree.  

The highest pay hike under the new salary structure for health sector workers has been awarded to specialists, sub-specialists and nurses. Clinical nurses who previously received an average salary of MVR 19,922 will now be receiving MVR 32,974. This marks a 66 percent increase.

Salaries of workers specializing in allied health such as counseling have also been increased as the number of such workers are low in consideration of their salaries. A new allowance, ‘Exclusive Service Benefit’, has also been introduced for specialists and sub-specialists signing an agreement to exclusively work in one hospital; an effort to discourage IGMH doctors from seeking employment in clinics.

Additional allowances have also been announced for night shift, ward in charge, on-call and medical internship graduates.

Main fundamentals considered in drawing up the new salary structure include addressing the shortage of health professionals willing to base themselves in hospitals and health centers in atolls in addition to encouraging locals to apply for specialized areas observed to be lacking local staff.

With the change, MVR 482 million will be incurred from the state budget for the salaries of health sector workers, said Faizal.