A medical doctor fired in 2021 for refusing to take a COVID-19 vaccine under the Unity Labour Party administration and reinstated recently under the New Democratic Party government’s policy has been barred by health ministry authorities, the Public Service Union (PSU) says.
The doctor’s plight, as reported by the union, is just one of a number of instances in which dismissed public sector workers have been reporting to the Ministry of Health for reinstatement and resumption of duties, only to be turned away, told there is no position available for them.
PSU President Elroy Boucher spoke on the matter as the union expressed concern over “roadblocks” that are hindering efforts to implement the new government’s reinstatement policy, as promised during November’s general election campaigns.
“There’s a doctor who has been practising in Mespo. He was so eager to get back to work, he went to Mespo to work. He resumed, and the instruction came that he must not see any patients. … So, he had to leave,” Boucher said on Boom FM on Monday.
The trade union leader said the doctor’s supervisor “received the instructions and tell him, ‘Boy, you can’t see any patients.’”
Boucher noted that the doctor is not being allowed to return to work even though, under the NDP’s policy, he is being paid from the date he returned to work.
He said senior public servants had said that the doctor’s post had not yet been released by the Ministry of Finance, and they, therefore, barred him from practising at the clinic.
Asked what could the union do in the particular situation, Boucher said this was a situation for the government to resolve.
Attorney General Louise Mitchell told reporters last Friday that only eight public servants were left to resume duties.
However, Boucher said that as of Saturday, the number was at least 44.
Boucher said he called the attorney general on Saturday to verify the information, but his attempts proved futile.
“The government presumed that all is well because their information,” he said, adding that, procedurally, the chief personnel officer (CPO) has to inform the government on the numbers.
“So, I even try to get in touch with the CPO, because the number that they give me. I just couldn’t get on to really find out what did they communicate because the workers are still not on the job,” Boucher said.
Boucher said that he spoke with most of the 44 workers on Saturday and had not received any call.
The ULP stalwarts are creating every possible obstacle for the NDP to rehire the workers dismissed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
I think doctors are slightly different they should report to MCMH and do supervised hospital work before going back to clinic. You will be amazed how much you forget in as little as four weeks
News Admin – considering that your readership is international, please proofread your articles before posting/publishing them. Recently, there has been an increase in simple grammatical errors.
Hi FAR,
Thank you for your comment.
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Admistrator why in these modern times that this newspaper does not see it fit to include an edit function that would allow the contributor to edit an article after posting as most journals do?
Hi Anita,
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iWN Team