Almost half of the 56 doctors at the KHMH staged a sickout yesterday, but seems someone found an antidote to what we’ll call the Fabro Flu – as today they were back on the job. The KHMH was fully staffed and clinics and wards were running as normal this morning.
But informed observers agree, it is a fleeting and fragile truce as the doctors remain fundamentally dissatisfied with the hospital’s Chairman Dr. Gary Longsworth.
And similarly, Prime Minister Dean Barrow told us yesterday that he feels the doctors,“seem to have no regard for their oath, or their duty of care to patients...they have gone far too far."
Today, Cabinet discussed the emerging crisis. According to a release issued this evening, they met with both the KHMH Board of Directors and later, the Labour Commissioner.
And while we are told many options and contingencies were discussed, what has been announced is that Cabinet accepted the Labour Commissioner’s offer to make one last effort at mediation to settle the outstanding differences.
The last mediation process fell apart on Thursday. The Medical and Dental Union walked out on talks after they felt that the Memorandum of Understanding counter-proposed by the board ignored fundamental points.
So, the bottom line tonight is that the Labour Commissioner will try and resuscitate that stalemated negotiation. Is the Union inclined to participate? Doctor John Sosa told us that no one has called them but they will discuss it at a meeting tonight.
The Chamber of Commerce also sent out a release today, warning that, quote “any further delays in securing an amicable solution between the parties poses a direct threat to Belize’s healthcare system.”