BREAKING: $1.5B in major salary increases for over 5, 000 healthcare professionals

President Irfaan Ali Monday announced major increases in the salaries for doctors, nurses and allied health workers, saying it was in keeping with his promise to ensure a better life for public sector workers but also in a bid to attract young talented professionals.

In an address to the nation, broadcast live from State House, the Head of State said the increases will take effect from January 01, 2023, and it is in addition to the recently announced eight per cent retroactive increase for 2022.

Only last week Dr. Ali announced the first phase of additional adjustments to the salaries of selected categories of employees of the disciplined services.

The increases for doctors as announced on Monday are:

• Medical Interns will now have their current minimum salary increased from $151,374 to $200,000, representing a 32.1 percent increase.
• Medical Officers will now have their current minimum salary increased from $219,878 to $300,000, representing a 36.4 percent increase.
• Medical Officers who have completed one year of post-employment experience will now have their current minimum salary adjusted to $351,204 in line with the current practice at the GPHC.
• Medical Officers who have completed two years of post-employment experience will now have their current minimum salary adjusted to $414,032 in line with the current practice at the GPHC.
• Medical Officers who have completed three years of post-employment experience will now have their current minimum salary adjusted to $446,160 in line with the current practice at the GPHC.
• Specialist Doctors will now have their minimum salaries increased from $276,536 to $450,000. This represents an additional 62.7 percent increase on the current minimum salary.

The increases for nurses as announced on Monday are:

• Nurse Aides and Patient Care Assistants will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $80,892 to $100,000. This represents an additional 23.6 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to each worker.
• Nursing Assistants will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $88,525 to $115,000. This represents an additional 29.9 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Nursing Assistant.
• Midwives will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $96,974 to $169,438. This represents an additional 74.7 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Midwife.
• Staff Nurses will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $111,628 to $169,438. This represents an additional 51.8 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Staff Nurse.
• Staff Nurses/Midwives will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $127,963 to $195,000. This represents an additional 52.4 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Staff Nurse/Midwife.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure that the public health care system is supported by adequately qualified technicians and allied health professionals, the government will be adjusting the salaries payable to several categories of these workers, including:

• Pharmacy Assistants will now all have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $84,662 to $100,000. This represents as much as an additional 18.1 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid these workers.
• Dental Aides and Laboratory Aides will now all have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from as low as $80,892 to $100,000. This represents as much as an additional 23.6 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to these workers.
• Community Health Workers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $88,525 to $100,000. This represents an additional 13 percent increase on the current minimum salary.
• Medex will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $152,420 to $200,000. This represents an additional 31.2 percent increase on the current minimum salary.

According to Dr. Ali, these revisions to the salaries of these workers will benefit over 5,000 persons and will increase disposable incomes by over $1.5 billion annually.

This represents a further installment of my government’s unwavering commitment to continue to improve the working conditions of our employees in the public sector and, indeed, of all Guyanese.