Applicability of Federal Physicians Comparability Allowance to Canal Zone Government Physicians

The Governor of the Canal Zone requested a decision as to whether the Federal Physicians Comparability Allowance Act of 1978 applies to physicians employed by the Canal Zone Government. The act permits federal agencies to grant additional compensation in the form of a comparability allowance to government physicians employed in positions that present recruitment difficulties and defines a government physician as including any individual who is paid under the Canal Zone Code. An ambiguity is created by the wording of the act, however, since the Canal Zone Code reference is applicable only to the Panama Canal Company. It is the Governor's view that the omission was inadvertent. GAO agrees with this interpretation in view of the act's legislative history indicating an intent to include Canal Zone Government physicians.