This petition serves to seek assistance in highlighting and addressing the ongoing issue of an increasing unemployment rate among medical practitioners. A significant number of physicians upon completing internship programs throughout various regions in the year 2015 are still awaiting responses regarding their applications for employment.
It is inconceivable to fathom despite a clear deficit and under-utilization of this mandatory resource throughout both our public and private health sector that over 150 confirmed physicians remain unemployed to this date. In light of this it will be greatly appreciated if some attention can be paid to the following points outlined below.
-Public Hospital Placements
This entity remains below standard of meeting employment demands to facilitate the growing number of medical professionals entering the work market. A closer look must be taken into examining current policies and a progressive change to making both health centers and private hospitals available for physicians to practice immediately upon acquiring full registration status. A proposal for a mentor-ship program to be implemented within these institutions should also be explored. This will also indefinitely serve to alleviate the burden on a limited public sector.
-Use Local Labour
The country have invested millions of dollars through scholarship/Government Assistance for Tutition Expenses (GATE) programs to educate the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to become medical physicians and now they are currently unemployed, some being for over 10 months. These doctors have signed contracts stating their obligation to work for the government for a specified number of years. Now having not employed them, they are forced to consider options outside of Trinidad and Tobago, thereby pushing them into contributing to the 'Brain Drain' phenomenon. This does not suffice for our economy. These doctors should be utilized to fill positions at the public health institutions instead of wasting investments in foreign doctors.
-Growing Intern Intake
June 30th 2016 will mark the completion of yet another batch of medical doctors completing internship programs. These numbers are reflective of medical student graduates placing greater strain on the current operating standard and increasing the unemployment rate. Efficient measures must be implemented to handle this influx.
-Regional Health Authority handling of applications
Upon contacting the health authority on numerous occasions the replies have been to the effect that the Ministry of Heath have placed a hold on all interviews and they are unable to say when this will resume. Positions remain unfilled by local practitioners however; importing foreign medical personnel is still under consideration for employment.
This is truly unacceptable and is clearly an issue to which immediate attention must be paid. Priority must be given in raising the standard with which these matters are handled.
-Loan repayment
A great number of medical graduates carry the responsibility of student loans acquired through funding the required course of medical education. Inability to repay these loans due to unemployment damages the individual’s credit status putting one at a disadvantage regarding efforts for future financing, mortgages, motor vehicles and likewise. In addition this situation hinders currency flow through the economy contributing to an already poor economic climate, yet another factor which highlights why change must be necessary and immediate.
Updates
January 22, 2017
The growth of this petition has reached a level that necessitates immediate formal action. I am currently finalizing a letter to the Ministry of Health to request a meeting regarding the placement of our unemployed physicians.
Reached 100 supporters
January 22, 2017
9 Comments
I will soon be completing my medical training in the UK. This ongoing situation really deters me from wanting to return when I DO want to be able to contribute to my country's healthcare system... but no real efforts are being made to improve the employment situation nor the healthcare environment at the expense of the health of the general public. Public hospitals in T&T are in need of more doctors, so why is this happening?
The government of Trinidad and Tobago, The University of the West Indies and The medical board of Trinidad and Tobago should be advocating for the employment of all of these young doctors.It is their responsibility, since they are responsible for training them. In a country in which the quality of healthcare provided is sadly wanting for more. The public could benefit from having adequately staffed hospitals and and more access to quality healthcare. If the situation is not corrected Trinidad will simply be a factory churning out doctors for export to Australia, the US the United Kingdom and many other countries. Shame on you, cost cutting at the expense of the health of the public of Trinidad and Tobago!
This is a very frustrating situation for these graduates who eagerly desire to practise their trade. Release them from the contract to serve locally if no jobs are available. Debt weighs heavily on these young shoulders.
Over the years there have been numerous complaints with respect to a shortage of doctors. It is difficult to understand why these qualified doctors are not being hired now. Very unfortunate situation
Ridiculous that we paying for all this training just to let these doctors sit home. The hospitals are short staffed every single day. Just hire them already.
Hire locally Trinidadian Doctors. Too much of them unemployed
We need our local work force.
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This petition serves to seek assistance in highlighting and addressing the ongoing issue of an increasing unemployment rate among medical practitioners. A significant number of physicians upon completing internship programs throughout various regions in the year 2015 are still awaiting responses regarding their applications for employment.
It is inconceivable to fathom despite a clear deficit and under-utilization of this mandatory resource throughout both our public and private health sector that over 150 confirmed physicians remain unemployed to this date. In light of this it will be greatly appreciated if some attention can be paid to the following points outlined below.
-Public Hospital Placements
This entity remains below standard of meeting employment demands to facilitate the growing number of medical professionals entering the work market. A closer look must be taken into examining current policies and a progressive change to making both health centers and private hospitals available for physicians to practice immediately upon acquiring full registration status. A proposal for a mentor-ship program to be implemented within these institutions should also be explored. This will also indefinitely serve to alleviate the burden on a limited public sector.
-Use Local Labour
The country have invested millions of dollars through scholarship/Government Assistance for Tutition Expenses (GATE) programs to educate the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to become medical physicians and now they are currently unemployed, some being for over 10 months. These doctors have signed contracts stating their obligation to work for the government for a specified number of years. Now having not employed them, they are forced to consider options outside of Trinidad and Tobago, thereby pushing them into contributing to the 'Brain Drain' phenomenon. This does not suffice for our economy. These doctors should be utilized to fill positions at the public health institutions instead of wasting investments in foreign doctors.
-Growing Intern Intake
June 30th 2016 will mark the completion of yet another batch of medical doctors completing internship programs. These numbers are reflective of medical student graduates placing greater strain on the current operating standard and increasing the unemployment rate. Efficient measures must be implemented to handle this influx.
-Regional Health Authority handling of applications
Upon contacting the health authority on numerous occasions the replies have been to the effect that the Ministry of Heath have placed a hold on all interviews and they are unable to say when this will resume. Positions remain unfilled by local practitioners however; importing foreign medical personnel is still under consideration for employment.
This is truly unacceptable and is clearly an issue to which immediate attention must be paid. Priority must be given in raising the standard with which these matters are handled.
-Loan repayment
A great number of medical graduates carry the responsibility of student loans acquired through funding the required course of medical education. Inability to repay these loans due to unemployment damages the individual’s credit status putting one at a disadvantage regarding efforts for future financing, mortgages, motor vehicles and likewise. In addition this situation hinders currency flow through the economy contributing to an already poor economic climate, yet another factor which highlights why change must be necessary and immediate.
Updates
January 22, 2017
The growth of this petition has reached a level that necessitates immediate formal action. I am currently finalizing a letter to the Ministry of Health to request a meeting regarding the placement of our unemployed physicians.
Reached 100 supporters
January 22, 2017
9 Comments
I have worked in T&T as an international UN volunteer and primary health care physician. I believe the country is able to address the deficit in human resources/skills for provision of quality health care at all levels using local health care resources. Whatever issues need addressing to make it happen should be addressed be it conditions of service or so. All areas of this country are accessible and none of them is remote.
I will soon be completing my medical training in the UK. This ongoing situation really deters me from wanting to return when I DO want to be able to contribute to my country's healthcare system... but no real efforts are being made to improve the employment situation nor the healthcare environment at the expense of the health of the general public. Public hospitals in T&T are in need of more doctors, so why is this happening?
The government of Trinidad and Tobago, The University of the West Indies and The medical board of Trinidad and Tobago should be advocating for the employment of all of these young doctors.It is their responsibility, since they are responsible for training them. In a country in which the quality of healthcare provided is sadly wanting for more. The public could benefit from having adequately staffed hospitals and and more access to quality healthcare. If the situation is not corrected Trinidad will simply be a factory churning out doctors for export to Australia, the US the United Kingdom and many other countries. Shame on you, cost cutting at the expense of the health of the public of Trinidad and Tobago!
This is a very frustrating situation for these graduates who eagerly desire to practise their trade. Release them from the contract to serve locally if no jobs are available. Debt weighs heavily on these young shoulders.
Over the years there have been numerous complaints with respect to a shortage of doctors. It is difficult to understand why these qualified doctors are not being hired now. Very unfortunate situation
Ridiculous that we paying for all this training just to let these doctors sit home. The hospitals are short staffed every single day. Just hire them already.
Hire locally Trinidadian Doctors. Too much of them unemployed
We need our local work force.
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I have worked in T&T as an international UN volunteer and primary health care physician. I believe the country is able to address the deficit in human resources/skills for provision of quality health care at all levels using local health care resources. Whatever issues need addressing to make it happen should be addressed be it conditions of service or so. All areas of this country are accessible and none of them is remote.