And we also asked Bernard, what's going on at the ministry? Three resignations this month - the Policy Analysis Director, Dr Javier Zuniga, and two pediatricians - made it seem like there was some mass exodus of professionals from the MOH - in a time when other healthcare professionals like nurses and lab techs are also scarce.
But today, the Minister said it's nothing like that. He explained that Dr Zuniga's resignation and that of the pediatricians are separate events. Here's how he put it:
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health
"I think, um, with, with all rights, let me, it's two different things, uh, Dr. Zuniga has opted to, to resign. Um, and that is his choice. Um, I, I, I can't, I don't know that there is any, um, issues in terms of, uh, personal issues within the, the ministry with him, but I know that I can tell you that I, I am very pleased that the work that Dr. Zuniga has been doing. I would've hoped that he would've been able to reconsider and stay on. Uh, but it is his choice now in terms of the paediatrician, those are from the NHI. Uh, we are working with, with, uh, right now going as well, let me also say this right now, because I know it'll come up at some point, um, but we are trying to work with the whole NHI, uh, and, and Ministry of Finance. As you know, um, doctors, uh, persons working in NHI used to have a gratuity and that was, uh, during the Covid Pandemic that was just as the 10% before that, before this, under the previous administration, their graduated was withheld. Um, and, and so one of the concerns from these doctors working at NHI is that they want their gratuity. But, uh, so we are the ministry, we have already written to the financial secretary, and I know in cabinet we are already supported that these people need to get back their gratuity. Uh, and, and, and it's no indication that yes, it's because of that, that they're resigning. I think that, uh, There are some people who as well, and I just said, said it, we are trying to find pharmacists where, um, the government structure and the pay scale in government has a lot to do with it, uh, people are looking at private sector, but we want to encourage people to stay on board and that's one reason why we have, we are looking at the whole compendium of allowances and how we can retain staff, uh, because it's important for us to be able to ensure that we can continue to provide, uh, seamless service to the Belizean people."
