Still no end to K.H.M.H. crisis…

Turning to the three week old dispute between the Belize Medical and Dental Union and the K.H.M.H. Board, Cabinet met today with the board and later with the Labour Commissioner Ivan Williams, who agreed to one last effort to settle the crisis. It is not known whether the doctors will accept this offer. And one day after twenty-four doctors called in sick, we found them back at work today. While they did not give any official comment to the media, it is believed the doctors called in sick on Monday to show their utter discontent with the way the K.H.M.H. Board—and government by extension—handled their concerns and have failed to remove three board members. These include the Chairman, Dr. Ricardo Fabro, Finance Director, Carlos Perrera, and K.H.M.H. C.E.O., Dr. Francis Longsworth. Longsworth has said that the Board feels it has reasonably met most of the doctors’ requests. But the sticking point is that the doctors are calling for the three persons to be suspended, at least until the audit is completed on the purchase of medical supplies at scandalous prices. Meanwhile, News Five has learnt that the doctors continue to meet and have written to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, asking for his intervention. Barrow on Monday defended the board and reminded the doctors of their responsibilities to the patients.