RHA contracts for junior doctors

There may be an end in sight to the prolonged negotiations between the Regional Health Authorities and doctors. The RHAs yesterday began offering new contracts to registrars (junior doctors) whose contracts expired since December 2002.

Since their contract expired the doctors have been working with letters indicating an extension of their old contracts. The vice-president of the Medical Professionals Association of TT, Dr Lakhan Roop, said contracts were yesterday issued by the South West Regional Health Authority and MPATT was meeting with doctors about this development. He could not say what the terms of the new contracts were, since he had not yet seen one. Roop said the offer came although negotiations were still taking place to resolve the outstanding issues of overtime, compensatory days and gratuity.

In May, doctors accepted the basic salary increase of $8,600 plus allowances, but contracts were not finalised because the other issues were referred to the Ministry of Labour. It has been mediating between doctors and their employer. Roop said “no headway” has been made since the meeting with the Ministry and joint negotiating team (JNT) of RHAs on Monday. Another development taking place yesterday was the RHAs sending counter proposals for consultants and registrars to MPATT. Roop said a date to begin negotiations had to be scheduled. Health Minister John Rahael was also optimistic, saying new contracts will be signed before the end of the year.