The Government of T&T continues to fund citizens of this country to pursue tertiary education through GATE. In fact, billions have been invested in programmes for medical students to pursue their MBBS at Mt Hope, Cave Hill, St George’s and Mona.
After completion of the MBBS, doctors are required to engage in an internship programme at the public hospitals for a period of one year.
Following which these medical doctors apply for positions at the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). It was customary that interviews were conducted within a period of two to three months and appointments were made shortly after.
With the change in government and boards, sadly this has not been the case with a large number of doctors who had finished their internship and applied for vacant posts at the RHAs since July, 2016.
It is mind-boggling and ironic that a country would invest so much money to develop its human capital and these hundreds of doctors are at home without employment while our nation’s hospitals are under-staffed.
No one at the medical board of as well at the Human Resource department of the Ministry of Health has any knowledge as to what is happening with these young doctors. Are we motivating these doctors to solicit employment in other countries? What are their options and the way forward for them?
KAA