President Irfaan Ali last night announced that effective from January 1, 2023, salaries will be increased significantly for professionals in the health sector with midwives and pharmacists attracting the biggest hikes in a package that will cost $1.5b annually.
“In order to ensure that the public health care system is able to attract talented young professionals, we will be making salary adjustments to several categories of doctors working in the system,” Ali announced in a live broadcast which was streamed on Facebook.
He said the adjustments to the current minimum salaries are additional to the eight percent across-the-board increase for public servants which was announced last month.
Over 5,000 medical professionals are expected to benefit from the revisions of the salaries, increasing their disposable income by more than $1.5B annually, Ali said.
According to Ali, the increases represent a further manifestation of the Government’s “unwavering” commitment to continue to improve the working conditions of employees within the public sector and every Guyanese, in general.
The adjustments will see health care professionals, at the levels of doctors, nurses and Allied health workers, benefiting from increases in their minimum salaries varying from between 13 to 74 percent in the new year.
Ali announced that medical interns will have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $151,374 to $200,000. “This represents an additional 32.1 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a medical intern,” he said.
Whether employed at the state owned George-town Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) or elsewhere, Ali said the current minimum salary for medical officers will be adjusted from $219,878 to $300,000.
Medical officers, who would have completed one year of post-employment experience will receive a salary of $351,204, in line with the current practice at the GPHC while those who would have completed two years of post-employment experience will be paid $414,032 in line with the current practice at the GPHC, in the new year.
And, those who would have completed three years of post-employment experience will benefit from an adjustment in their current minimum salary to $446,160, Ali said.
Meanwhile, the current minimum salary for Specialist doctors such as Gynaecologists, Neurosurgeons, Dermatologists, Orthopaedic surgeons, etc. will be adjusted upwards from $276,536 to $450,000. “An additional increase of $62.7% on the current minimum salaries,” Ali announced.
He further stated that nurses, nurse aides and patient care assistants will have their salaries increased from $80,892 to $100,000.
Nursing assistants’ current minimum salary will move up from $88,525 to $115,000 while Midwives will have their current minimum salary increase from $96,974 to $169, 438,” Ali said. For midwives, this is an increase of 74.7%.
Further, Ali said staff nurses will also have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards, by an additional 51.8% increase on what they are currently being paid.
And, staff nurses/midwives’ current minimum salary will be adjusted upwards from $127,963 to $195,000, he said.
Increases were also announced for Allied health workers. “In order to ensure that the public health care system is supported by adequately qualified technicians and Allied health professionals we will we adjusting the salaries payable to several categories of these workers,” Ali said.
To this end, he noted that the current minimum salary for Pharmacy assistants will be increased from $84,662 to $100,000.
Dental and lab aides will benefit from an increase in their current minimum salary from as low as $80,892 to $100,000.
Ali further stated that in the new year, the current minimum salary for community health workers will be increased from $88,525 to $100,000.
Medex and pharmacists whose current minimum salary are $152,420 and $127,963, will also see their salaries being moved to $200,000 and $215,000, respectively, Ali said. For pharmacists, this represents a rise of 68%.
“…..I want to say to all Guyanese that this Government remain committed in bringing prosperity to every home. In improving the livelihood and living conditions of every single Guyanese, in every single village, in every single profession. We are working day in, day out to make your lives better,” he said.
Ali urged health care workers to deliver their service at the “highest” level. “We ask you to repay our country with excellent care, with good customer service, with patience and love, with dedication and commitment, with trust and with fulfillment of your oath,” he stated.
Earlier this month, the President announced similar salary adjustments for members of the Joint Services.
