No free for all in issuing medical licences

Health Minister Colm Imbert said there is no possibility of a “free for all” in the issuing of licences for doctors to practice medicine in TT.

He was responding to an article in last Thursday’s Newsday in which an official of the Medical Board criticised changes to the Medical Board Act for absolving the Panel from any wrong doing with any doctor it licensed. The official said the Act made it possible for ‘friends and family’ to get licensed to practice medicine. Imbert said this allegation is unfounded. Giving a statement last Friday he assured that “there is no possibility” that the Panel can issue licences to ‘friends and family’ because the procedure for registration of doctors by the Panel is clearly defined in the Medical Board (Amendment) Bill 2003.

Imbert said the Panel will only consider applications for registration of doctors when “asked to do so by the Minister of Health when there is a shortage in the public health system.” He has asked the Panel established to issue Special Temporary licences to foreign doctors to consider the applications of six Cuban doctors, who were in the first batch of medical personnel arriving in TT on July 24. He said so far the Panel has not issued any licences. “The Panel is still in the process of doing necessary research work to arrive at a decision,” Imbert said.