September 30, 2026

Health Ministry on stand by to implement contingency measures if doctors follow through on warning to disrupt service Friday

The Health Ministry stands ready to implement contingency measures should public sector doctors follow through on a warning of possible disruption in service this Friday.

This is in relation to the position taken by the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) and its demand for the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) to issue a long-overdue ruling.

In a statement, the Ministry said it acknowledges the concerns of the doctors regarding the delivery of a decision by the Tribunal in relation to the dispute over overtime payments and related matters.

The Ministry said it is also awaiting the decision of the IDT, which is an independent statutory body established to determine and settle industrial disputes referred to it.

The Ministry has called for continued patience by the parties involved given the complexity of the matters under consideration by the Tribunal.

The Ministry said it has taken note of the posture of the JMDA regarding possible interruptions to healthcare services, if an IDT decision is not handed down by Friday, October 2.

The Ministry says that, through the regional health authorities, it will therefore put in place measures to limit any possible impact on the patients who visit health facilities.