MPATT refutes claim about consensus on allowances

The Medical Professionals Association of TT (MPATT) has refuted claims by Chairman of the Joint Regional Health Authority team Imtiaz Ahamed, that consensus was reached on Special Duty Allowances and housing allowances for doctors.

MPATT has also challenged the accuracy of the figures presented in advertisements highlighting  the offer made by the RHAs for House Officers. In a media release yesterday, MPATT Assistant Secretary Dr Lakhan Roop said the advertisement reported that Trinidad House Officers presently receive the total sum of $19,504 per month, but he described it as “totally inaccurate and misleading”.

He said this figure was contradicted in another advertisement which stated that Trinidad House Officers were presently receiving $15,627. This sum represents a 40 hour week with an additional 56 hours monthly. Roop said Tobago House Officers in 2001 received $22,612 monthly within the first year of employment, which “is more than the total package of a Specialist Medical Officer/Consultant in Trinidad”. Tobago doctors receive an Incentive Allowance to compensate for differences in cost of living. They also received an increment of $300 for each year of experience from $8,000 for the first year to $9,200 for the fifth year of experience.

While the advertisement said the RHAs offered Trinidad House Officers a package of $22,053 monthly, Roop said this was never on the negotiating table. He said at last Monday’s meeting Ahamad, said “they were not offering the package as advertised”. For 2003, doctors are seeking a total package of $20,106 (Year 1 House Officers) $20,600 (Year 2), $21,094 (Year 3) and $21,588 (Year 4). For the period 2004 MPATT is seeking a package toalling $20,600 (Year 1), $21,094 (Year 2), $21,588 (Year 3) and $22,082 (Year 4). For 2005, $21,094 (Year 1), $21,588 (Year 2), $22,082 (Year 3) and $22,576 (Year 4).

For the period 2003-2005 the RHAs are offering, until September, $17,962 and from December $16,762, and compensation packages totalling $16,762 (2004), $17,223 (2005). MPATT has also rebutted statements made by Chief Executive Officer of the South West Regional Health Authority, Vade Mohammed. Roop said at no time was an offer made by the RHAs which exceeded $22,612 per month, although Mohammed said Trinidad House Officers were being offered more than their Tobago colleagues. He said the RHA offer peaked in 2003 and subsequently decreased in 2004 and 2005. He said it is false to say MPATT is changing their negotiating stance. “The RHAs wanted to choose sections of the Tobago contracts and then offer the 2001 figures in 2003, without adjustments for inflation and other economic parameters for the ensuing two years. MPATT thus objected.”

The doctors are seeking Overtime/Extra Duty to be paid at double time for the first seven sessions of eight hours. The RHA is offering a rate of 1.66 times. Doctors want the rate on weekends and Public Holidays to be at a rate of 2.5 times the hourly rate but the RHAs said these days are considered equal and equivalent to a normal week day. Roop said the RHAs’ offer reduces Communication Allowance from $350 monthly to $250 and Continued Medical Allowance will be stopped after September 2003.