Doctors on the Isle of Man have voted to take strike action in an ongoing dispute with Manx Care over what the British Medical Association (BMA) describes as "pay erosion since 2008." The decision follows the calling off of a planned walkout in January 2025 after a previous deal was reached.
That prior agreement covered the financial years 2023-24 and included an 8% pay increase for the first year, followed by a 6% rise from April 2024 and an additional 2% from February last year. However, the BMA asserts that despite these adjustments, doctors' real-terms pay remains significantly below 2008 levels.
Dr. Prakash Thiagarajan, chair of the Isle of Man Medical Society, stated that the recent vote sends "a clear message that the current situation cannot continue." He noted that pay erosion has left doctors feeling "undervalued and increasingly concerned about the future of the profession on the island."
Dr. Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the BMA council, commented that by voting for strike action, doctors are "standing up for fair pay, recognition of their expertise, and the long-term sustainability of medical staffing on the island."