New Restriction Coming for Doctors!

At the top of the newscast, you heard about the new curfew for those under the age of sixteen, which will come into effect on Friday. But that’s only a part of the new measures that will be implemented. Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte announced during today’s Ask the Experts webcast that medical doctors in the private sector will also be restricted.  The doctors, he explains, will not be allowed to move between public and private institutions for work. Here’s how he explains the controversial decision that is likely to limit the availability of specialized care at the public hospitals.

Michael Peyrefitte

Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General

“There will be an amendment to deal with doctors. We had an incident with a private health care facility and a public health care facility and we believe that there has arisen some conflicts that were there before but some conflicts that must be addressed during this emergency period because we are dealing with a deadly disease. There will be a restriction on doctors. You either work for a private facility or you work for a public facility. So, there can be no double dipping, per se. So, if you are a doctors and work in private health clinic and you want to work there then you will not be able to work at a public hospital or clinic, then you will not have any authority at that public hospital or clinic. If you are working for the government and the people of Belize, you are not allowed to work in a private health facility. At least that will be the case for the duration of the emergency and we will be putting that in the law. It is not the law yet but it will be the law by Friday.”