The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) has declared its intention to commence a trade union action starting tomorrow (January 24).

The protest is in response to the government's decision to suspend the payment of Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance, a move that has faced opposition from various health sector unions.

The government initially introduced the increase in allowances as a measure to address concerns related to the brain drain of professionals from the health and education sectors. As part of this initiative, university teachers were set to receive a 25% boost in study allowances, and doctors were to benefit from a doubling of the DAT allowance.

This announcement, however, was met with staunch resistance from other health sector unions.

The controversy stems from the perceived disparity in the distribution of benefits, leading to tensions within the health sector.