Health sector dualism ends in 2004

HEALTH MINISTER Colm Imbert expressed optimism that  a major plank of Government’s health sector reform programme will be achieved through the transfer of public servants in the Ministry to the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) by September 2004. Addressing the PNM San Fernando East 37th annual constituency conference of delegates on Saturday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said a “major obstacle” to health sector reform in Trinidad and Tobago was the division of personnel between the RHAs and the public service but hinted that this obstacle will soon be overcome. Speaking with Newsday following yesterday’s PNM General Council meeting at Balisier House, Imbert said: “Negotiations are underway and close to conclusion for the orderly transfer of public servants from the central Ministry of Health to the RHAs.”

The Minister stated that the process would be similar to an exercise undertaken at the Civil Aviation Authority “where the Public Services Association was named as the successive trade union in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act.” He said this will allow an orderly transfer of public servants to the RHAs by the end of fiscal year 2004, “which will be about September 2004.” “What this will do is remove the dual-track employment problem that exists where you have both public servants and RHA contract officers operating in the same environment and there is sometimes confusion as to who is in charge and who people should take instructions from. That’s a major plank of health sector reform. It will be a significant achievement in terms of health sector reform.

Once the RHAs have all the employees, then they will be able to deal  with them in terms of improving their terms and conditions and also in terms of managing them. “Right now, it is very difficult for the RHAs to manage public servants because public servants do not report to the managers in the RHAs,” Imbert explained. Prior to the October 6 presentation of the 2003/2004 Budget, Imbert predicted sweeping changes in the way the local health sector is managed. The Prime Minister has also predicted a complete overhaul of the health sector by July 2006, complete with a National Health Insurance Scheme that would guarantee an acceptable level of health care for all citizens.