Health officials, doctors meeting amid sickout

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tuft on and his senior executives are now meeting with the representatives of the Jamaica Medical Doctors' Association to discuss today's sickout by junior doctors in the public health system.

Stakeholders from the regional health authorities are also participating in the meeting.

According to the Health Ministry, of the 1,036 junior doctors who should have reported to work today, only 488 or only 47 per cent did so.

Roll call

*South East Health Region - 78 per cent or 301 of the 387 doctors  absent

*North East Health Region - 49 per cent or 56 of the 114 doctors absent

*Southern Region - 43 per cent or 125 of the 290 doctors absent

*Western Health - 27 per cent or 66 of the 245 doctors absent

The absence of the doctors disrupted routine operations at several health centres across the island.

However, the Health Ministry is seeking to assure that all efforts are being made to ensure that patients accessing the various public health facilities receive the best possible care.

It said the regional health authorities, which have direct oversight for hospitals and health centres, have activated contingency plans that include the assignment of senior doctors to man various aspects of the operations.

The ministry said the priority is being given to emergency cases while appointments for some elective procedures are being rescheduled.

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