The country’s health care system will face further difficulties with the administration’s decision to switch doctors to the pension scheme, as many doctors are likely to migrate in search of better opportunities.
Dr Vindhya Persaud
This is the firm view of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) the outspoken Dr Vindhya Persaud, who told Guyana Times that she is disappointed by Government’s move. She said that doctors are very important and many of them work above and beyond the call of duty. Taking them off contract would lead to a reduction in their earnings, and they do not deserve to be so treated; they neither desire nor deserve to be placed in a pension scheme. Doctors employed by the Public Health Ministry earn less than some other doctors, and if they were to be transferred to the pension scheme, it would mean their losing not only their gratuity, but their on-call earnings.
“They have families to raise and have expenses like everyone. They are working long hours and have been part of the public health system. I know what those hours can do to you. And now you are telling them that this is an imposition, and you are just severing them with no severance pay and you are not giving them the percentage back on their salaries. So they are losing all the way round,” Dr Persaud said.
Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence
According to her, doctors at most major public hospitals have complained about the sudden imposition of this new policy. “They feel it’s an attack on them because they are working, they are giving back and contributing, and yet they are being penalised.
The opposition MP raised concerns that some doctors, particularly those who have completed their first degree in medicine at the University of Guyana, may opt to find employment overseas.
“The conditions (overseas) and the salary are much better. So, if they have an opportunity to stay (overseas), they will. So, we will lose resources from Guyana. Those who have contracts or were under contracts, they have no choice, but the others will opt for a better salary,” she reasoned.
This change, according to Dr Persaud, does not auger well for the country’s health care system, which is currently under-resourced, especially in specialist areas.
“The problem of shortages will just get worse because, if you lose key resource people, then you are creating a burden on the economy in terms of health care. What we want is the doctors who have earned their first-degree, we want to encourage them to stay and specialise and expand the delivery of health care by delivery of specialist services,” Dr. Persaud told Guyana Times.
Temporary and contract workers whose emoluments fall within the GS3 to GS14 salary scales will be affected by the change that Government plans to implement through the Public Service Commission. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has also criticised Government, stating that by forcing doctors to accept the unpopular pension scheme, doctors who joined with expectations of gratuity will exit the public service as soon as their contract comes up for renewal.
Olive branch
Meanwhile, following much criticism for the decision, the Public Health Ministry has extended the olive branch to local doctors. A notice originating from the Public Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Collette Adams, was sent out inviting all contracted medical doctors in the Government’s employ to a meeting with Ministry officials.
According to the stated agenda in the notice, the doctors would be meeting to discuss the removal of the doctors from their gratuity arrangement. The meeting is set for April 10 at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) from 09:00hrs.
But while the Ministry’s conciliatory approach will be a welcome sign to the disaffected doctors, Guyana Times understands that the notice was sent out only after some disaffected doctors procured the services of an attorney-at-law. A letter was then dispatched warning of legal action. According to sources, the letter had demanded that an explanation for the switch be made to the doctors, whom this publication understands were not consulted in the first place.
The lawyer’s letter was sent to the MoPH on March 31, and had also included a seven day deadline for a response from the Ministry, failing which legal proceedings would be initiated.
Guyana Times first broke the story, revealing that as of March 24, temporary and contract workers within the GS3 and GS14 salary scales (including doctors) would be switched from gratuity benefits to pension. The Ministry of Public Health and Government officials have since maintained a carefully guarded silence on the matter, despite outcries from the Guyana Medical Association (GMA) and other groups.
The GMA had also joined the voices calling on the Government to reverse the measures it had taken against benefits medical doctors formerly enjoyed.
