A Joint Meeting of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) and representatives of the Medical and Dental Union of Belize (MDU), the Nurses Association of Belize (NAB) and the Staff Reps of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) was held on Saturday, December 16, 2006.
Concerns and issues related to GOB’s proposed amalgamation of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) with Universal Health Services (UHS) were discussed, and agreed to was a possible joint plan-of-action, including meetings with Prime Minister, Hon. Said Musa and Minister of Health, Hon. Jose Coye.
The NTUCB and other parties represented at the meeting are very concerned at the lack of transparency and secrecy surrounding the proposed amalgamation and the serious implications on the quality, levels of health services and costs to our Belizean citizens and tax-payers.
We are also gravely concerned about the lack of consultation and respect shown so far to the Medical and other staff of the KHMH and the apparent haste and lack of a clear national and long-term health services plan, or deviations from the present plans as proposed.
Like the masses of the Belizean population and taxpayers, we again, are concerned at GOB’s continued use of public assets and funds to cover and bail out private entities.
We thus call on the Government (GOB) and other parties involved TO PUT A STAY ON ALL FURTHER DISCUSSION, DECISIONS AND PLANS on the proposed amalgamation until the matter is further discussed with stakeholders and the Belizean people properly consulted and informed.
(A Joint NTUCB/MDU/NAB PRESS Release)