The Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) has put the management of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) on notice of potential industrial action, if a proper meeting is not convened next week, to discuss several vexing issues.

In a letter copied to the media, the JMDA expressed disappointment with the manner in which the hospital has continued to engage with the doctors.

The JMDA said since 2024, it made numerous attempts to engage meaningfully with the UHWI to address what it describes as several questionable practices relating to doctors’ compensation, staffing inadequacies, and the resulting negative impact on patient care at the UHWI.

The doctors said its unfathomable that, despite the gravity and breadth of the 13 substantive issues raised in a letter sent to the hospital last month, encompassing staffing shortages, breaches of compensation arrangements, and serious patient safety concerns, the meeting convened to address these matters was allotted only one hour.

The JMDA said as a matter of principle and procedural fairness, it declined to participate in a meeting of such limited duration, as it would not have permitted a reasonable or meaningful engagement with the issues outlined in the correspondence.

It said the imposition of this inadequate time allocation was dismissive of the seriousness of the matters raised.

The JMDA said compounding this concern, it was not informed in advance of the one hour limitation, further undermining the integrity and purpose of the proposed meeting.

The doctors have placed the UHWI on formal notice, that the hospital must convene a properly constituted meeting with the JMDA urgently, with sufficient time and authority to resolve the outstanding matters, no later than next Wednesday, February 11.

The JMDA said this meeting must result in clear commitments and timelines for rectification of the identified issues.

The doctors urged the UHWI to be mindful to not set a meeting for February 10, as that is the date already set for its tribunal hearing, involving the Ministry of Health and the hospital.

The JMDA said the formal notice is issued without prejudice to the rights, remedies, and entitlements at law and under existing contractual and industrial agreements.

It said should the UHWI fail to take immediate and meaningful steps to resolve these matters by the stated deadline, the JMDA will have no alternative but to advise membership accordingly.

It said in such circumstances, the JMDA cannot guarantee the continuation of normal operations at UHWI.