New 40-hour workweek to be implemented for some doctors at public facilities

 

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says the ministry will be implementing a new work arrangement for some doctors employed at public hospitals.

 

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Dr. Tufton said the Ministry of Health will introduce a seven-day, 40-hour workweek.

 

He said this will result in more doctors working less time under normal circumstances.

 

Dr. Tufton added that the new work arrangement will also prevent burnout among health care providers and result in more focused doctors giving their patients the best care. 

 

"The contemplation for the new work arrangements is for Saturdays and Sundays to be treated just as weekdays are treated with doctors paid for doing regular duties, 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. as part of a 40-hour work week and over time rates paid after 4 p.m. To implement this new arrangement, a revision of the scheduling practices within hospitals will have to be undertaken to ensure that all services are covered within standard at the facility."

 

Dr. Tufton said schedules will be developed to reflect all days as ordinary work days and assignment of staff can be made by any day of the week. 

 

The Health Ministry, he said, will meet with the various target groups and explain the new arrangement.

 

Health facilities will apply these rules in accordance with the requirement for service delivery.

 

 

The Ministry of Health is also to embark on a recruitment drive as it seeks to hire more doctors to fill the 927 new posts created within the public health system.

 

Dr. Tufton said this represents a 60 per cent increase in the number of physicians who can be employed in the health system.

 

He reiterated that this will allow for smaller patient-to-doctor ratios and advancing a more efficient service. 

 

The new jobs are established posts, not contract-based, and will be implemented over the next two to three years. 

 

"We are going to be advertising and then it's the ability to fill those posts that will determine how quickly we get up. On Sunday, this Sunday, October 15, 2023, the ministry will post in the media space some 674 jobs for new posts that have been created for all hospitals and primary care facilities within the public health system," he revealed.