John Rahael: Doctors have seen the light

HEALTH Minister John Rahael yesterday praised the nation’s doctors for seeing the wisdom of avoiding confrontation in the health sector over monetary issues and keeping the needs of the patient uppermost in their minds. Rahael told Newsday that his information is that 30 to 35 percent of the Regional Health Authority (RHA) doctors have signed the new contracts and those who have not signed where prepared to continue working with temporary letters.

The Minister said he was “happy to see that the action taken by the various stakeholders” was not similar to that taken in the last two years which saw the health sector tailspin into the realm of confrontation. To those doctors who signed the new contracts, Rahael said he was pleased that they “put country and the welfare of patients before self”. To those still to sign, the Minister said it was heartening to know that the doctors realise that no one wins if the services in the health sector are disrupted. Rahael added that in the grand scheme of things, he was not disappointed that all doctors did not sign the new contracts by December 31, when the terms and conditions of the old contracts expired.