By LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Tuesday, July 21 2009

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ON HIS FEET: Dr Tim Gopeesingh in this file photo, speaking in the House of Representatives....

THE North-West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) yesterday “clearly and categorically” refuted statements by MP for Caroni East Dr Tim Gopeesingh that “ethnic cleansing” of doctors was taking place at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH).

In a release, the NWRHA responded to the 13 doctors identified by Gopeesingh as leaving the system because of this. It said eight doctors took Voluntary Separation of Employment Packages (2007) and re-employment offers were made to them but they did not accept. Two doctors who were members of the University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences resigned from UWI. Three doctors resigned voluntarily and two of them took up jobs at other facilities.

The NWRHA said it was constrained by confidentiality of employees’ information from providing detailed information. It invited any of the doctors who disagreed with its statements to “engage the NWRHA”. The NWRHA said it was disappointed by Gopeesingh’s “unsubstantiated and insulting remarks and reiterates its commitment to equal opportunities employment and equal and fair treatment of all staff.”

Asked if doctors were being frustrated in their attempts to gain re-employment with the NWRHA CEO Agatha Carrington said some doctors were asking for compensation in excess of $70,000.

She said salaries were set by the office of the Chief Personnel Officer. “We do not set salaries. What was being asked for was way in excess of what we can offer,” she said.

The Medical Association of TT has also taken issue with Gopeesingh’s comments. An official told Newsday that the comment was “bringing the profession into disrepute by bringing race into this thing. We abhor cheap political ploys along a race issue using the medical profession.”

Senior Urologist Dr Lall Sawh was one of the doctor’s whose name was mentioned. In a detailed explanation of what caused him to no longer be employed at PoSGH, Sawh said, “I am a doctor and surgeon and the issue of race is not detected on my radar but I will say there are many reasons why I did not re-apply for consideration for my job as Consultant Urologist at PoSGH, a position I had held from April 1988.”

Dr Sawh said in “most cases” Ministry of Health employees and senior consultants were given an ultimatum to either take VSEP or reapply for their jobs through the NWRHA. He outlined some of the highlights of his 32 years in the public service including establishing the Urology Unit at San Fernando with the late Dr Yip Hoi, “single handedly” inaugurating service at Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex and establishing a urology ward at PoSGH. Dr Sawh mentioned staff shortages which required him to work at these facilities as there was no other urologist and salary disparity with RHA doctors junior to him. At PoSGH he reported not having junior staff and working alone. Sawh spoke of his disenchantment with the system after a former Health Minister made “scathing remarks” about senior doctors. Sawh said with the VSEP offer as part of the incentive to go, doctors were offered repayment of all compensatory days. However, when he applied for this, the Medical Chief of Staff refused to sign his claim. Attempts to get redress at the Health Ministry received no response. Sawh said at meetings the “attitude and treatment” of RHA officials to senior doctors re-applying for their job “was clearly intended to discourage our interest in reapplying for our posts”.