The health and wellness ministry says it’s prepared to implement measures to limit any possible impact a disruption of healthcare services may have on patients at health facilities.
The ministry says measures to limit the disruption’s impact will be coordinated through the regional health authorities.
This follows the ultimatum issued by the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association, JMDA, on Tuesday.
During a media briefing at Medallion Hall Hotel in St. Andrew on Tuesday, JMDA president, Dr. Jubilee Brown-Service, said the Industrial Disputes Tribunal, IDT, has until Friday to issue a ruling in their ongoing overtime pay conflict with the government.
Dr. Jubilee Brown-Service, JMDA president.
The JMDA says Friday’s deadline is a reasonable cut-off date for the IDT to rule on the three-and-a-half year old dispute over the 2021 overtime rates doctors are currently being paid.
In response, the health and wellness ministry says it acknowledges the concerns of the JMDA. The ministry says it’s also awaiting the IDT’s decision.
It’s urging all parties involved to exercise patience, given the complexity of the matters being considered by the tribunal.
