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APNU demands answers about Govt’s plans to source T&T doctors
(Kaieteur News) – The recent announcement by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad- Bissessar that scores of doctors from the twin island will be contracted to provide medical services in Guyana, has sparked questions from opposition member of parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul.
During the feature address at a children’s Christmas concert on Sunday, the PM revealed that new partnerships are being established between Trinidad and Guyana, to offer employment opportunities for medical professionals.
She said, “Dr. Bholo and the minister of health (are discussing) to hire in Guyana doctors from Trinidad and Tobago because we have so many well-trained doctors and with all the new hospitals opening up in Guyana we are working on a partnership.”
Opposition MP, Ganesh Mahipaul
The prime minister added that the initial batch of doctors from T&T could be about 50.
To this end, Mahipaul on Tuesday raised a dozen questions concerning the development, calling on the government to be fully transparent on the issue.
He has asked the government to state the specialisation of the doctors to be hired and the number of medical professionals to serve in each specialty.
Mahipaul also asked about the duration of contracts; expected salaries, allowances and other costs to be funded by government such as housing, transportation and others.
The MP has also raised questions over the placement of doctors at specific health facilities across the country. He queried, “Where will these doctors be placed within the public health system? Are they intended for regional hospitals, health centres, or the Georgetown Public Hospital? What criteria or process was used to select these doctors, and were local doctors given priority or consideration? How will this decision impact opportunities, morale, and career progression for Guyanese medical professionals currently in the system?”
In addition to the projected cost of this initiative, Mahipaul questioned whether the names and credentials of the doctors will be made public for the purpose of independent verification and background checks.
Further, the MP asked whether the decision was subject to any bilateral agreement, and if so, whether the details of that agreement will be tabled in the National Assembly.
Mahipaul noted that Guyanese have every right to full disclosure on this matter, especially given the financial, professional, and societal implications. “Transparency must be the foundation of any decision involving foreign recruitment within our healthcare sector,” he urged.
With no timeline set for the next sitting of the national assembly, the MP said he publicly highlighted his questions which will also be shared in parliament.
The government previously disclosed plans to import skilled professionals to help close the country’s rapidly expanding human resource gap.
The announcement of imported labour to provide services in the medical field in Guyana comes even as doctors and nurses complain of being forced to work extended periods with little to no additional benefits from the government.
Last year, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) highlighted complaints from doctors across the country that they are working overtime without any proper compensation.
The union stated that a memorandum which was issued by the Ministry of Health on February 9, 2021, had instructed doctors that “to remedy the shortages of doctors and in an effort to reduce the burn out syndrome by doctors at the main facilities (regional and district hospitals) doctors from the primary health care facilities (health centers and post) are required to support their colleagues by doing at least ten (10) on-call sessions monthly”.
The union noted that the memo is evidence that doctors are “forced” to perform on-call duties after completing the normal eight hours shifts.
This situation over the years has resulted in the migration of medical professionals to countries such as Canada and the United States (US) where solid compensation packages are offered.
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