Decision soon on senior doctors contracts

Last week, Enill said he was optimistic that the PSNC would reach an agreement on the contracts sometime this week.

Contacted yesterday for an update on the PSNC’s deliberations on the senior doctors’ contracts, Enill informed Newsday that the committee was "close to a resolution."

The minister said agreement has been reached on several issues pertaining to the contracts and there was one outstanding matter left to be resolved.

Enill added that once this was done, the PSNC would inform the Health Ministry of its decision and the ministry would then carry the process forward. Acting Medical Professionals Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MPATT) president, Dr Lakhan Roop, said the doctors were awaiting word from the PSNC and the ministry.

Roop said once a decision has been made about the new contracts, MPATT would then hold discussions with the senior doctors and "take if from there." The negotiations for senior doctors contracts started in March 2004 and experienced numerous stops and starts. Following a breakdown in negotiations earlier this year, when senior doctors refused to work overtime and on public holidays, Health Minister John Rahael ordered that the Joint Negotiating Team (JNT) of the Regional Health Authorities be revamped in order to address concerns raised by the doctors. Roop has expressed general satisfaction with the way in which the new JNT, headed by Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry Raymond Cooper, has handled the negotiations with the doctors.