Doctors warn of healthcare disruption if overtime ruling delayed

The Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA) has warned of potential disruptions to the public healthcare system if the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) fails to make a ruling on its case by Friday, October 2.

“We’ve worked for the past 42 months, long hours, in some of the most adverse conditions. In resource deficient facilities, with poor accommodation, and high doctor patient ratios. We’ve worked, we deserve to be paid, we deserve a ruling. Our patience has been exhausted,” president of the JMDA Dr Jubilee Brown-Service said at a press conference at the Medallion Hall Hotel in St Andrew on Tuesday.

The association has been pressing the IDT to make an award of $31 billion in back money for overtime, while the Government’s calculation for retroactive overtime payment for the doctors is $23 billion.