And as the union prepares for a Public Service shutdown, tomorrow doctors are joining in.
The Belize Medical and Dental Union today announced that it stands in solidarity with the unions, "in their struggle for urgent political reform in the management of public funds." And effective tomorrow, that solidarity will be more than just in spirit as the doctors will suspend all elective surgeries and cancel their outpatient clinics. The release stresses that the doctors still stand prepared to deal with any emergency that may arise fo4rm the present situation. The effect should be greatest at the country's largest hospital and its national referral center, the Karl Heusner Memorial. We today asked the hospital CEO, Dr. Alvaro Rosado what those in need of medical attention can expect.
Dr. Alvaro Rosado, KHMH CEO
"This is a statement from the Medical Union, the union of doctors. They have decided, as is their right, to issue a statement in support of the other unions and they have decided to make a statement of what their position is and what their going to do. This is not the KHMH stand, this is not an official KHMH policy, but we respect the right of all employees to go along with their conscience and do what they have to do. The important thing here is that I have been assured by the Medical Chief of Staff that nobody's health or welfare will be compromised. The KHMH will continue to provide any service that is needed. Our accident and emergency service will continue. Clinics will be slated as usual. The doctors have stated they will not be holding some of their clinics, that is the doctors' position and they are entitled to do that. It will be an ordinary day as far as KHMH is concerned in the sense that doctors are always sick, doctors have business appointments, doctors have to go to court, and they are many times when clinics are cancelled or postponed so it is just another day. Whether we are going to have more postponements or not is up to the individual doctors."
Jules Vasquez,
Are the doctors being selfish?
Dr. Alvaro Rosado,
"Jules I would say categorically no. The doctors at KHMH, and I can only speak for KHMH what I expect to happen here and what systems we have in place to take care of situations, I can categorically state that the doctors ever since I've been here, under the leadership of the Medical Chief of Staff, Dr. Fernando Cuellar, have been a professional group and they have not shown, to me, and indication that they will change from being the professionals that they are. I fully expect that the doctors have their personal allegiances, have their personal feelings, and they will vent these feelings. But I am equally sure none of the doctors here will allow their feelings to endanger or to withhold any type of service necessary for patients here."
And while the KHMH will be affected, so will the other regional hospitals and at this time, it is unclear what level of service they will be offering.
