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JMDA President Dr. Mindi Fitz-Henley and Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton
Jamaica's junior doctors have decided to return to work.
This follows a meeting on Thursday evening with the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA) and officials of the Ministry of Health.
The parties discussed a list of concerns, including the decision not to renew the contracts of 143 doctors, the issuing of short-term contracts and the non-payment of gratuity.
JMDA President Mindi Fitz-Henley said the Health Ministry has agreed to adhere to the Heads of Agreement, which states that "persons are to have a two or three-year contract, unless the officer elects to have one for a shorter period of time."
She said the short-term contracts that had been offered to some doctors will be changed to fall in line with this requirement.
Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has said no more six-month contracts will be issued to doctors.
He explained that short-term contracts should only be issued in special circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was also agreed that outstanding gratuity will be paid to all doctors by the end of next month.
No resolution regarding expired contracts
However, there was no settlement regarding the more than 140 doctors whose contracts expired on Thursday.
Dr. Fitz-Henley told Radio Jamaica News that efforts will continue to get new contracts.
"Two things need to happen: a needs analysis to show that additional doctors are needed on the ground - which of course, anybody can see that without the needs analysis being completed - but it has to be done first so that...they can petition to the Ministry of Finance to get these contracts done," she explained.
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