THE JAMAICA Medical Doctors' Association (JMDA), formerly the Junior Doctors' Association, has issued an ultimatum for the Government to present an acceptable payment schedule by the end of the business day today for its members, who were short paid some allowances this month.
Dr. Patrick Toppin, the association's president, expressed shock and disappointment with what he described as "The callous and high-handed decision made by certain health authorities, and by extension the Government of Jamaica.."
However, a release from the Ministry of Health yesterday said that except for seasonal payment, all workers within the four regional health authorities had been paid their full salaries, supper and taxi allowances yesterday morning. The Ministry of Finance has been withholding money for statutory payments for workers in the Health Ministry for sometime now, The Gleaner understands.
The Health Ministry noted that the net monthly wage bill for the South East Regional Health Authority stands at $198 million, including the $21 million paid for seasonal duties.
On Tuesday, various sections of the medical profession were informed that their monthly salaries would be late, and in addition, they would receive only half of their seasonal claims. This resulted in workers across the island becoming restive as they demanded an explanation.
Audley Shaw, Opposition spokesman on finance, described the Finance Ministry's action as "cruel and insensitive and must be reversed immediately..."
Mr. Shaw said the situation was unprecedented and an indication that grave problems existed in the financing of Central Government. He charged that the Finance Ministry was concealing the facts.
