-Health Minister urges collaboration to improve working conditions

EVEN as he commended the signing of an agreement to end the protest action by nurses, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to improve working conditions for all healthcare workers.

On Wednesday, it was reported that GPSU Vice-President, Dawn Gardener, and government adviser, Dr. Jennifer Westford, signed an agreement for the commencement of negotiations between the two sides and the suspension of a planned countrywide strike.

“I am really happy that decision was made, and that we will work to resolve whatever issues come up… We can do that in a very cordial way because all of us want the best for our healthcare workers and we have to work together to improve the system,” Minister Anthony said in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI).
Minister Anthony commended the work that is being done by the country’s healthcare workers.
“I have really met some wonderful people during this short time who really go beyond the call of duty trying to make sure that patients are cared for. That’s what nurses and doctors and other healthcare professionals do,” he said.

For several weeks now, public healthcare workers, nurses in particular, have been staging protests at facilities, including the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC); the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Region Three; the Fort Wellington Hospital in Region Five; and the Linden Hospital Complex in Region 10. The nurses are calling for better pay and risk allowances.

Last week, GPSU President, Patrick Yarde, issued an ultimatum that the union would await a “positive response” from the minister by October 6 or the union will work to mobilise and support countrywide protest action and strikes.

Moving forward, Dr. Anthony said he expects cordial deliberations to take place as the government continues to augment measures to ensure that healthcare professionals, and other frontline workers are given the requisite gear to deliver the best service.

According to reports, more than 250 health workers employed at the GPHC, who work directly with COVID-19 patients, have been receiving risk allowances.

$150 million was also allocated to the frontline workers in the recently-passed budget. However, government had noted that there are other budgetary provisions that healthcare workers will benefit from.