Breakdown of mediation between K.H.M.H. and doctors

The clock is ticking and there’s no resolution in sight to the three week dispute between the doctors and the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Board. This afternoon both sides did sit down at the Biltmore Hotel but things did not go well. The three hour meeting came to a grinding halt when the Belize Medical and Dental Union walked out. A counter proposal was made by the board and that raised the temperature of the union. K.H.M.H. C.E.O. Gary Longsworth gave a statement on the behalf of the board.

Gary Longsworth, C.E.O. K.H.M.H.
“The B.M.D.U. abandoned the mediation process, refusing to negotiate on even one single item of their draft M.O.U. While the board was prepared to accept the majority of points raised by the union in their draft M.O.U., the union refused to negotiate on any single item proposed by the board. The union representatives presented an ultimatum that the board must accept every point as written by them. The K.H.M.H. Board has been working diligently to address the issues addressed to the board contained in the Prime Minister’s press release. The board has already initiated the process for a full and independent audit inviting participation of the B.M.D.U. The board has further initiated the establishment of a procurement committee again inviting participation of the union. The board has also started to investigate all allegations of overpriced medications as reported in the preliminary audit and will be reporting directly to the prime minister. To date, this has not shown any evidence of involvement of the present financial director.”

Jose Sanchez
“The prime minister said whoever is responsible heads would roll.”

Dr. Francis Longsworth
“The prime minister said absent a satisfactory explanation, then we should take steps against person or persons responsible for any wrong doing.”

Keith Swift, Channel Seven
“Have you gotten that explanation?”

Dr. Francis Longsworth
“What explanation?”

Keith Swift
“You said…”

Dr. Francis Longsworth
“That is what is written in the prime minister’s press release.”

Jose Sanchez
“But it has been shown that prices have been inflated, who is responsible for that? Shouldn’t that be the head that should roll?”

Dr. Francis Longsworth
“Those inflated prices need further investigation. The preliminary audit report did not compare the prices paid at retail with current retail market prices at the time. It compared the retail prices on the open market to tender prices, which are entirely different.”

Dr. Ricardo Fabro, Chairman, K.H.M.H. Board
“Things appeared to have been purchased at inflated prices. We do agree, but we have said that we are looking into it and none of these point to our present financial director who was not on board as yet and on another instance, was away with his family on vacation leave. So that removes him away from that. Then we need to look further to see who did the purchasing and everything, relating to the inflated prices that were shown in an invoice to the press.”

Jose Sanchez
“One of the points brought up by the B.M.D.U. is that the board or the executive is responsible. They say you can’t objectively investigate yourselves.”

Dr. Ricardo Fabro
“That is why we have said that we would initiate the independent audit with their input and that was one of the proposals.”