Minister blames pharmacists, workers
Health Minister John Rahael yesterday said it was "to some extent unforgivable" for the pharmacists at Mt Hope Women’s Hospital to stop preparing the intravenous food — Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) for premature babies at the Neonatal Unit for 22 days due to the non-payment of the TPN allowance since February. However, Rahael also blamed the Regional Health Authority workers whose actions contributed to the pharmacists’ action. Last week the minister gave a personal assurance of payment to the two pharmacists after news that they stopped making the TPN became public. They returned to work last Wednesday after being paid the arrears. Speaking to the media after a Chamber of Industry and Commerce breakfast meeting at Columbus Circle, Rahael said the pharmacists’ complaint (about not being paid their TPN allowance) did not reach the right ears. He said there were problems at the Accounts Department of the North Central RHA and there were people "not doing their jobs." Rahael said it would be difficult for disciplinary action to be taken against workers. He hoped with the restructuring of the Regional Health Authorities into North West and North Central, there would be improvement in time. Newsday was informed last week that two unpaid cheques had been prepared since July 14 but were not processed. In addition, the pharmacists’ worksheets were found in the Payroll Department last Tuesday after they complained to a NCRHA official about not being paid the allowance. The RHA split was also said to have contributed to the problem. Newsday was told that workers in the Payroll Department who were responsible for processing the allowances withheld their labour because they were unhappy about not being promoted to their acting positions after they were transferred to the NCRHA.
Comments
"Minister blames pharmacists, workers"