Whether the People’s National Movement (PNM) or the People’s Partnership is voted into government on Monday, Public Service Association president Watson Duke said millions of dollars in retroactive payments must be made to health workers of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA).
Although the final cost of the backpay for doctors and nurses is still being calculated, Duke expects it to be paid by month-end.
Responding to statements by SWRHA chief executive officer Anil Gosine that backpay would be distributed within the next two months, Duke said, “They gave us a commitment that it would be paid in October but we rejected that; therefore they moved forward and paid the new salaries at August month-end. I think if that is being done, I expect the rest to be paid by September month-end, however the politics swing.”
He added, “It is all about patience and we will see how it goes. We don’t want to jump it too soon so we will take our time and allow it to happen, then make a decision if there is a case. Based on the normal order of things elsewhere and historically, it should be a month after the increase is paid,” Duke said.
Speaking at the opening of the $10 million Palo Seco Health Centre yesterday, Gosine said when the final cost had been determined, the Ministry of Health would approach the Finance Ministry for funds. He said the SWRHA had always been in the habit of paying their workers and doctors. Nurses had already begun getting their salaries with a 14 per cent increase, he said.
“We are working on the backpay now. As you would know South West is the largest RHA. Other RHAs are also working on their backpay. We have to do our auditing because we would not like to give backpay without doing a proper audit and that is a major process, and that started in August. It should be completed in the next month or two, but we will put extra resources on it to get that going,” Gosine said.
“You have to remember it is not only the nurses, it is also backpay for MPATT members which are the doctors. All the other staff will be getting their backpay. I can’t give you the final figure at this point in time as it is still being computed. I’m hoping they get it before Christmas,” Gosine added.
New Health Centre
The new Palo Seco Health Centre replaced the old outreach centre along the SS Erin Road. The building, Gosine said, was constructed by Pioneer Construction at a cost of $9.5 million and was outfitted with $.5 million worth of equipment. Work began in July 2014 and finished in August. He said the fully air-conditioned facility will receive its first batch of patients on Monday. Staff from the old building, who were temporarily transferred to the Erin Health Centre, will return. The new facility will also be open five days a week.
SWRHA deputy chairman Urich Birbal added that the health centre had a Point of Care Testing system which facilitated the speedy processing of laboratory tests. This allows the attending doctor to make a diagnosis within half an hour of the patient undergoing tests.