Holyrood ministers urged to boost doctors' pay above inflation
The BMA has called the pay rise offered in England "unacceptable".
Doctors leaders in Scotland are calling for ministers at Holyrood to "take a different approach'' to pay from their UK counterparts and show "how much they value the profession''.
Peter Bennie, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland, said the below-inflation pay rise for doctors in England was "unacceptable'' as he called on the Scottish Government to reverse the trend.
Doctors have worked "above and beyond expectations in order to keep NHS Scotland going'', Mr Bennie said as he called on Scottish ministers to be more generous.
He spoke out after it was confirmed in the NHS in England junior doctors, specialist doctors, GPs and dentists will receive a pay increase of at least 2%, while consultants will get a minimum ÂŁ1,150 rise.
But the Office for National Statistics recorded inflation as being at 2.4% in June, with this having fallen from 3% at the start of 2018.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the increases for doctors and dentists recognised their "value and dedication'' and took into account affordability and the prioritising of patient care.
Ministers said the pay rises were worth between ÂŁ1,150 and ÂŁ1,550 for consultants, between ÂŁ1,140 and ÂŁ2,120 for speciality doctors, between ÂŁ1,600 and ÂŁ2,630 for associate specialists and between ÂŁ532 and ÂŁ924 for junior doctors.
Mr Bennie noted: "Today's announcement on doctors pay by the UK Government does not cover Scotland, where we await a decision from the Scottish Government.
"The BMA has been clear that in England it is unacceptable that the policy of inflicting a real-terms pay cut on the majority of doctors will continue.
"As a result, this presents a real opportunity for the Scottish Government to demonstrate how much they value the profession and take a different approach.
"It is a chance to reverse the trend of below-inflation pay restrictions that have devalued doctors, even as we work above and beyond expectations in order to keep NHS Scotland going.''
Mr Bennie added: "The Scottish Government must demonstrate that they are truly serious about tackling the problems of recruitment, retention and morale that are having such a damaging effect on our NHS, and the care it provides.
"Through their impending decision on pay the Scottish Government simply must act to ensure that working as a doctor in Scotland, at all levels of the profession, is a genuinely attractive career choice."