The Government Ayurvedic Medical Officers’ Association has raised concern over the discontinuation of the additional allowance granted to Ayurvedic doctors.

President of the Association, Dr. Upula Kondasinghe, says that while Western medical doctors receive an additional allowance of 180 hours per month, Ayurvedic doctors are granted only 20 hours, and even that was discontinued after the current government came into power.

During the tenure of Health Minister Ramesh Pathirana, a committee had approved a 120-hour allowance for Ayurvedic doctors. 

However, under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration, due to the prevailing economic crisis, it was decided to reduce this to an interim allowance of just 20 hours, he said. 

Dr. Upula Kondasinghe claims that the discontinuation of even the reduced allowance under the current government constitutes a grave injustice to Ayurvedic doctors.

He further points out that all top positions in the Ministry of Health, including the Minister, Deputy Minister, Secretary, and the Minister’s Private Secretary, are held by individuals representing Western medicine. 

As a result, Ayurvedic doctors face significant challenges in having their concerns addressed and resolved, he added. (Newswire)