THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has clarified the status of seven clinical doctors whose employment contracts have lapsed, saying four of them had their three months extension approved, whilst the reengagement of the other three will be sorted out next week.
The clarification issued yesterday was prompted by various comments on this matter on various platforms.
In a statement, MHMS said the National Referral Hospital (NRH) currently has 120 doctors, including 38 specialists and the contracts of seven of these 38 specialist doctors ended at the end of June 2024 and reengagement processes are in progress for them.
“For the 7 clinical specialists whose contracts have ended, four have had their 3 months extension approved by the Public Service Commission, whilst others will be sorted out in the coming week.
“They are not left dry as insinuated in initial reports, but rather, a 3-month extension has been granted to them. The extension is to allow MHMS and Public Service to implement the recruitment and reengagement process,” MHMS explained.
MHMS said the basic salaries of these seven doctors were cut because their contracts have ended but the allowances that they are entitled to are continuously paid to them.
“So, in essence, they are currently receiving part of their pay. Once they are reengaged, their basic salaries will be reinstated and backdated.
“These medical specialists are highly paid public servants and officers in the country. They have their basic paid salaries renumerated at Super Scale level, and given the nature of their work and their work environment, they are entitled to 12 specialist allowances and benefits including the following: gratuity, education grant, accommodation grant, transport allowances, Special Duty Allowance (SDA), Call back, salary supplementation per year, Dirty and Danger Allowance (DDA), Retention, Utilities Overseas travel benefits Passages, clothing allowance and Equipment allowances,” MHMS said. It added that the National Referral Hospital currently has 120 doctors, including these 38 specialists.
MHMS, meanwhile, thanked the medical specialists for the ‘fine services’ they have rendered.
