Despite our proximity to Mexico, the Influenza A H1N1 remained just a scare in Belize and was pushed to the backburner. But the virus is still being monitored by the Ministry of Health. In a release issued late Friday evening, the Ministry confirmed that Belize is still free of the virus. But concerns have been […]
The doctors say they are frustrated because while their allegations of corruption in the procurement of medical supplies have been confirmed by a quick audit, no action has been taken. And while they have stopped negotiating, they still hope for change. Dr. Marta Habet, Secretary, B.M.D.U. “We have some evidence and the audit was done […]
While an essential services tribunal may be the next step to resume negotiations, the immediate concern is to ensure continued and uninterrupted healthcare at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital because it is the last referral point for patients in the public system. After Thursday’s failed mediation, that point was highlighted by the Labour Commissioner, Ivan […]
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 […]
Talks broke down over amendments proposed to the M.O.U. In original form point number fourteen said that no punitive measures would be taken against members of the B.M.D.U. for participating in the discussions. That point was modified by the board to say “No punitive measures be taken against any member of the B.M.D.U. or any […]
The doctors have their own side of the story. B.M.D.U. President, Doctor John Sosa, says there are many wrinkles with the M.O.U. and they will not put their signatures to it. Dr. John Sosa, President, B.M.D.U. “We had given them an M.O.U. that in large part was drafted by the C.E.O., Ministry of Health at […]
Arthritis is a condition that affects more women than men for different reasons and in many forms. But it is generally the wear and tear of the joints and spine. This edition of Healthy Living looks at osteoarthritis. Marleni Cuellar, Reporting There are over a hundred different types of arthritis, all of which have different […]
The standoff between Belize Medical and Dental Union and the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Board ran into another snag today. That is because a meeting scheduled for this afternoon did not get off the ground. This time it was the board that did not show up. A Union Executive informed News Five that they waited […]
The swine flu scare recently had many Belizeans inattentive to illnesses that are literally brewing in our back yards. But there are several reports in different parts of Belize City that Break-bone fever or Dengue has been affecting some residents. News Five’s Jose Sanchez visited the Central Health Lab today which confirmed the disease is […]
The Belize Medical and Dental Union has remained quiet in the past days in light of negotiations taking place with the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Board over allegations of corruption at the nation’s referral hospital. On Monday the report of a government appointed audit was released by the Office of the Prime Minister. And while […]
The preliminary audit into allegations of corruption at the K.H.M.H. has been released and it primarily confirms the allegations made by doctors of glaring inconsistencies in the prices of medical supplies procured by the K.H.M.H. For non-comparative bidding between April first 2008 and June fifteenth 2009, for instance, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies were procured directly […]
This is week three of the standoff between the Board and doctors of the K.H.M.H. And while the two sides are still engaged in negotiations and meetings, the report of the preliminary inquiry, ordered by the Prime Minister, is out and it confirms overpricing of medical supplies. Whether or not heads will roll is still […]
But while there are glaring inconsistencies in prices, a meeting that ended late this evening between the K.H.M.H. Board and the B.M.D.U. ended once again yielded nothing concrete. Representatives of the Union did not offer a comment and it was left to Labour Commissioner, Ivan Williams, to address the press. Williams said the atmosphere was […]
The unrest surrounding the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital seems to have been subdued for the time being as part of ‘good faith’ for the week of negotiations between the doctors and management. Work at the hospital has resumed as normal as possible, and the go-slow has been discontinued. This is significant considering yesterday’s press conference […]
Scotia is not only trying to reach youth’s in the region. The bank is also promoting healthy lifestyles for adults. June twenty-seventh is the bank’s regional testing day for HIV/AIDS and it is being celebrated nationally today in Belize. And according to marketing manager, Josie Andrews, the community has fully utilized the one- day free […]
The story on the ongoing saga between the K.H.M.H. Board and the Belize Medical and Dental Union has been in the news for a week and it seems there is no end. Today the Board broke its silence and spoke to the press and the only thing the two sides seem to agree on is […]
At the press conference the K.H.M.H. C.E.O., Francis Longsworth, went on to highlight areas in which the hospital has invested monies to improve the services. And while the doctors have provided pictures of unacceptable quality of instruments being used, Longsworth said the allegation that the instruments are rusty is not entirely true but the doctors […]
There is more on the K.H.M.H. The Board told the media this afternoon that they are not willing to have the Chairman, Doctor Ricardo Fabro, C.E.O., Francis Longsworth, and Finance Director, Carlos Perrera, be sent home during the investigations. But what about the questions the doctors raised over contracts? And the renovations on an area […]
Cataract is a painless, but bothersome eye condition that manifests itself at an older age. While it can cause loss of vision, it is not a diagnosis of definitive blindness. This week Healthy Living turns the lens on cataract and its treatment. Marleni Cuellar, Reporting The physical effects of aging on the body are many. […]
The sweetheart deals in the purchase of medical supplies for the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is stinking to high heaven. When News Five opened Pandora’s Box last week on the scandalous overpricing by the politically connected De la Fuente Pharmacy in Orange Walk, that was only the tip of the iceberg. Today more startling information […]
The Belize Medical and Dental Union also challenged this morning the management of the K.H.M.H. for a release issued on Monday in which they stated that there were printing errors on the price list of supplies acquired. To add salt to the wounds, according to the union, some of the supplies have been rendered useless. […]
But as volatile as the situation is at the K.H.M.H., the doctors say they are willing to sit at the negotiating table. And in response to an official release on Tuesday afternoon which said that the B.M.D.U. did not show up for a meeting with the Minister and others, Doctor John Sosa said it was […]
The B.M.D.U. also disclosed details of a fourteen point Memorandum of Understanding which they had hoped to sign with the K.H.M.H. Board on Monday. Union Secretary, Dr. Beatrice Thompson, says the document was not penned because the K.H.M.H. C.E.O. Dr. Francis Longsworth, Director of Finance, Carlos Perrera and the Chairman of the Board, Doctor Ricardo […]
There is no end to the litany of concerns and the B.M.D.U. is also critical of the state of the utensils they have to work with. Another issue that propped up was the price paid for recent renovations near the K.H.M.H. Emergency Unit. Dr. John Sosa, President, B.M.D.U. “We have an issue with the way […]
The ongoing impasse between the Belize Medical and Dental Union and management at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is one week old and has now reached boiling point. And after another day of meetings there is still no cure in sight to the crisis. News Five has confirmed that a final meeting will be held […]
