JNT to meet doctors

HEALTH MINISTER John Rahael and the Medical Professionals Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MPATT) are optimistic that all matters pertaining to the new contracts for senior doctors (consultants and registrars) would be resolved in early January 2005. Contacted yesterday, Rahael told Newsday that he did not anticipate any problems where this was concerned. According to Rahael, the Joint Negotiating Team (JNT) of the Regional Health Authorities had one more meeting with the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and then would be meeting again with the senior doctors.

JNT chairman Imtiaz Ahamad said the meeting to which Rahael referred had already taken place and the JNT will meet with the doctors in the first week in January. Ahamad was optimistic that all matters pertaining to the new contracts would be ironed out by that time. MPATT acting president Dr Lakhan Roop said the doctors last met with the JNT in November and were awaiting word as to when their next meeting would be held. Reminded of a previous ultimatum issued by the doctors that they would not work overtime or on public holidays if certain matters pertaining to their new contracts were not addressed, Roop said no decision had been taken on these matters and that all doctors reported for duty at the nation’s hospitals over the long Christmas weekend.

However, Roop said the doctors had received “certain information” which could change their thinking, but they needed time to verify it before making a decision.  The acting MPATT president said he remained hopeful that there would be a resolution regarding the senior doctors’ contracts in the new year. The negotiations for the senior doctors’ contracts started on March 22 but the regularity of the talks have fluctuated over the year for several reasons.