Doctors’ union backs interns

THE Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA) has reinforced its support of medical interns at the Mandeville Regional Hospital (MRH) who have voiced their dissatisfaction with being asked to conduct COVID-19 swabs and attend to COVID-19 patients without being fit-tested for personal protective equipment (PPE).

The expression of support comes after the interns who spoke to the Jamaica

Observer, on condition of anonymity, said that they felt like they were being faulted by the JMDA for the treatment they were receiving at MRH.

“They say they have also reiterated that the SMO [senior medical officer] reserves the right to curate the duties of the interns. The last communication I saw from them, they were outlining that we were allowed two don and doff sessions, and since it is that some of us did not go to those sessions, we are then at fault and they cannot represent us on that behalf,” an intern said.

The intern, however, defended their absence, saying the same sessions – which served the purpose of educating medical staff on how to properly put on and take off PPE — were haphazardly scheduled and some people were not in the parish at the time.

“For the first session, it was the day of the session a message was sent out via the departments to say please be reminded there well be a session today. That was the first time a lot of people heard about it. During the second session, some persons were on departmental leave,” the intern said.

But JMDA President Dr Mindi Fitz-henley said the lobby group does not cast aspersions nor separate issues that arise, and views everyone as just members and doctors with an aim to represent all concerns.

“I don’t think that has been an issue whatsoever. But if this is how they feel we need to address the issue, because at no point do I want to belittle their feelings or to make them feel that their feelings are not valid. So, it would be good for us to have dialogue with them to try and settle the issue