-DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STATEMENT REGARDING MAM COUNTER-STATEMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STATEMENT REGARDING MAM COUNTER-STATEMENT

Reference is made to MAM's press release in connection with the number of doctors at St. Luke's hospital. In terms of the approved medical manpower plan (1998 - 2000) the number of doctors at St. Luke's Hospital should be 9 Chairmen, 106 Consultants, 120 Senior Registrars and 150 Registrars/Senior House Officers/Medical Officers.

The current complement of staff at St. Luke's Hospital is 7 Chairmen, 72 Consultants, 87 Senior Registrars and 161 Registrars/Senior House Officers/Medical Officers. The above-mentioned figures include 76 doctors on study leave abroad and on parental leave. The Health Division has been continuously filling vacancies in the medical grades and during the last two years 97 appointments were issued i.e. 3 Chairmen, 22 Consultants, 17 Senior Registrars, 6 Registrars and 49 Senior House Officers.

Calls for applications for the filling of posts in Anaesthesia, ENT Surgery, Clinical Haematology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry and General Surgery have been stalled following representations made by MAM to the Public Service Commission regarding eligibility criteria. Now that an agreement has been reached, the said calls are being processed. These calls will offer a further 6 Consultant posts and 16 Senior Registrar posts. Further calls for the filling of 14 Consultant and 5 Senior Registrar posts are being prepared for publication. Surely the above reflects the substantial efforts being made by the Health Division to address the issues raised by MAM.

Doctors' working conditions are determined by the agreement signed between MAM and the Management and Personnel Office of the Office of the Prime Minister in 1993. MAM is well aware that the Health Division is not in a position to alter such conditions of work. It is equally aware that proposals for changes to such conditions can only be discussed for inclusion in the next Agreement due in 2001. Such new proposals will need to reflect the advances in medical care, the anticipated autonomy of the hospitals as well as the working hours of doctors.

 With reference to the promotion of doctors who have given long local service, it is to be pointed out that medical posts at all levels are filled following a public call for applications issued by the Public Service Commission. The selection process is completely outside the jurisdiction of the Health Division and there is no reason to believe that appointments are not given to the most deserving applicants. MAM's insinuation that locally trained doctors are disadvantaged when it comes to promotion is not substantiated by facts. Indeed, 86% of the 42 posts in the Chairman/Consultant/Senior Registrar grades filled during the last two years were taken by doctors who have given "long local service".