Old Eyes And New Vision When Increasing The Salaries Of Doctors’ And Teachers’
The doctors and teachers are involved with their “Noble Profession” and make many sacrifices to build a healthy and intelligent nation, respectively.
Teachers’ and Doctors’ Salaries must undergo better and meaningful revisions that are based on the ideal criteria, since they are underpaid at present, in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asian Countries.
I am penning down my thoughts, which may be a “better measuring yardstick”, along with the current “performance appraisal systems”, to reward their performances, laborious work and contributions made to society, Motherland and the Universe.
SRI LANKAN AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
The recommendations made may assist not only the decision makers in our Motherland, but also the leaders, governments and heads of organisations, including Human Resources, globally as well.
Recommendations to increase the salaries of both professions have been made based on my professional association with the Medical Professionals and Heads, Medical Consultants, doctors, Heads of the Schools, Pedagogues and Teachers of Educational Institutes.
Furthermore it has been envisaged by being an Educator for 40 years and the lessons learnt and knowledge and skills acquired at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and based on 41 years of versatile experience as an Educator, Administrator, Head of Vaccines Division of a global organisation, Marketer, Trainer, Evaluator of employees in the private sector,(Corporate Employee Appraisals), General Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Specialist in Professional Communication, Group Communication and Presentation, Life Transformational and Life Management Coach, Senior Advisor, Senior Lecturer and Senior Teacher Trainer, Panel Member of the Interview Borad of a 125 years old Swiss Pharma Company and Inspirational Speaker and Writer and Guest Columnist for “Education Times, Sunday Times”.
Let us now look into the criteria of rewarding the Teaching Professionals on a broader basis;
- Number of students promoted to their next grade with distinctions.
- Number of prefects selected from a Teacher’s class.
- Number of Prize winners produced at the Annual Prize-Giving.
- Number of students representing each sport.
- Number of team or association captains or leaders produced.
- Number of students representing the National teams.
- Number of students becoming priests and serving the society and the Motherland.
- Teachers-in-Charge of the school’s associations, union and clubs.
- Serving exclusively one educational institute throughout the service.
- Celebrating Silver Jubilee.
- Celebrating Golden Jubilee.
- Continuous Professional Education and Qualifications.
- Not known for punishing the students, not even using verbal abuse or hurting others’ feelings.
- Good Temperament and not raising their voice, provoked by anger.
- Not passing sarcastic remarks to the students.
- Well-disciplined.
- Well-mannered.
- Sound Character.
- Having patience as a virtue.
- Role as a Pedagogue, Educator, Mentor, able leader, motivator and inspiring personality.
- Ability and the versatile experience in sculpting, moulding, crafting multi-talented students to bring glory and honour to their Alma Mater, Society, Motherland and the Universe.
- Ability to work under pressure but not to lose self-control or balance.
- Sound and transparent finance management.
- Number of students who passed the government examinations.
- Number of students who entered universities.
- Number of doctors, engineers, lawyers, armed forces personnel, Teachers and other professionals produced.
- Number of students transformed into “Global, valuable and worthy citizens “.
Hence, the reward to teachers should not be based on the number of hours of work every month, but on a long-term basis, with accumulating values and rewards 
By doing this, you will attract individuals to join and serve in the Teaching fraternity.
You can encourage senior and experienced teachers to continue serving instead of leaving halfway.
You get quality work and students, school, society, Motherland and the Universe will largely benefit from my strong recommendations on rewarding systems and methodology.
CRITERION FOR A REWARDING SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS (DOCTORS)
Along with the general criteria, one has to consider evaluating a doctor when rewarding or making salary increments to him based on the following criteria;
- Number of patients treated by an individual doctor.
- Number of patients cared for by an individual doctor.
- No. of patients comforted.
- No. of patients cured.
- Role played and contributions made in uplifting the health of individuals and their family members.
- Role played and contributions to the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary prevention of diseases.
- Continuous Medical Education and Academic and Professional Qualifications attained.
- No. of lives saved.
- No. of lectures, including public lectures given to create awareness on diseases.
- Medical Inventions.
- Medical books published.
- Contributions to the nation through Health Awareness programmes in the Media.
- Roles played in rendering professional services to treat the Physical, Mental and Emotional aspects of patients.
- Doctor’s availability for 24-hour Medical Services.
- No. of Medical Students, House officers, Senior House officers, Medical officers, Registrars, Senior Registrars, Assistant Physicians and Consultants trained and produced.
- Serving the Motherland instead of migrating.
- Working outstations and sacrifices made to serve the patients, their family, society and Motherland.
- Tireless service, unwavering commitment, razor-sharp focus, dedication, determination, discipline, devotion to duty, passion, perseverance, resilience.
- Dynamic, Vibrant, Resolute and Astute Leadership.
- Affiliations to Medical organisations and Voluntary services.
- Service in the Armed Forces sector.
- Celebrating Silver Jubilee and Golden Jubilee.
- Nominal Consultation Fees Charged from the patients.
- Ethical Practices followed.
- Organising and participating in Free Medical Camps.
- No. of unutilised leave.
- Exclusive government practice.
CONCLUSION
Medical Professionals and Educators play a pivotal role in building society and the Motherland.
Their immensely valuable contributions are not fully recognised or appreciated by the concerned parties.
Hence, the proposal mentioned above may assist the responsible authorities in incorporating the recommendations into new policies, plans, or the national budget and rewarding both academic staff and Medical Professionals based on the quality and standards of the professional services they render, in addition to their experience.
Over to you.
Have you thought about it?
Now you may kindly consider to “think about it” but most importantly “act upon it swiftly”.
Old eyes and new vision should be the goal of everyone in the forthcoming New Year, 2026. The writer is a former Visiting lecturer at the Sri Lanka Medical Association on “Ethical Pharma Marketing” and “Professional Communication Skills”
and a former Media Co-ordinator of Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologists and Ceylon College of Physicians and the former head of Merck Vaccine Division, a subsidiary of the hall of fame, Fortune 500 and a 134-year Pharma giant Company, Merck & Co. USA and a former Treasurer, Assistant Secretary and Editor of the Pharma Promoters Association (PPA), Sri Lanka.
He can be reached
via mravindhiran@gmail.com
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