Region 4 doctors decry new mandatory on-call shifts at Diamond, Enmore regional hospitals

Jun 10, 2025 News

Kaieteur News – Approximately 20 Government Medical Officers (GMOs) from Region Four have raised serious concerns regarding new mandatory on-call shift requirements at the Diamond and Enmore Regional Hospitals.

The medical professionals, in a release, cited increased fatigue, underpayment, and the erosion of professional standards as major issues stemming from the directive, which was introduced without consultation. The controversy began after Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Narine Singh issued a notice last Friday informing that, starting Monday, all GMOs currently assigned to the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara would be required to participate in a new on-call duty rotation. The notice stated, “This is part of our on-going efforts to strengthen the delivery of medical services and ensure adequate coverage during after-hours, weekends, and public holidays.”

Under this new schedule, doctors are expected to work weekday on-call shifts from Monday to Friday, 16:30 hrs. to 20:30 hrs., and weekend and public holiday shifts from 08:00 hrs. to 16:00 hrs. The guidelines explain that a four-hour weekday shift is counted as one shift, while an eight-hour weekend or public holiday shift is counted as two. At the end of each month, doctors are required to submit an on-call claim form. Compensation for the shifts has been set at $4,000 per shift.

In response, the affected doctors released a statement, expressing their “deep concern and professional grievance” over what they describe as an “unsustainable and exploitative” policy. They stated, “This new policy, while masked as an initiative to strengthen public healthcare delivery, has effectively imposed unsustainable and exploitative conditions on frontline medical workers.”

The group outlined several specific concerns, starting with what they believe is a direct breach of Guyana’s labour laws and public service regulations. The doctors pointed out that according to these laws, employees are entitled to two rest days after five consecutive days of work. “This policy now demands that doctors, after working their regular five-day shifts, also perform a minimum of 10 on-call shifts per month, which includes either five 8-hour weekend or holiday shifts, or ten 4-hour weekday evening shifts from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., following a full day’s work. This is not only excessive, but dangerous to the health of doctors and to the patients we are entrusted to care for,” the doctors explained.

The second major issue raised by the doctors is what they term “Gross Underpayment and Discrimination in Compensation.” They emphasized that the taxable $4,000 per shift is inadequate and fails to even cover fuel or transportation costs. “Doctors serving under this new on-call scheme will receive a taxable $4,000 per shift, a rate so low that it cannot even cover fuel costs or transportation for an entire duty period… This discriminatory pay structure devalues our time, our expertise, and our commitment,” they declared.

A third concern is the health risk posed by fatigue and lack of rest. The doctors highlighted that even the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has publicly emphasised that doctors require at least seven hours of sleep to function safely and competently. “Sleep deprivation in healthcare settings is linked to increased medical errors, impaired judgment, and long-term heart and mental health issues. This directive flies in the face of those health standards,” they said.

The fourth point raised was the climate of fear and intimidation that surrounds the implementation of the policy. The doctors noted that most of their colleagues are employed on short-term contracts and are therefore afraid to speak up. “There is a prevailing climate of fear of losing gratuity, facing disciplinary retaliation, or being reassigned to hinterland regions as punishment for speaking out. This toxic environment not only violates our rights but further demoralizes our already burdened workforce,” they asserted.

Finally, the doctors expressed concern about the erosion of family life and mental health, especially with the anticipated opening of the Ogle Child and Maternity Hospital. They said, “Doctors are expected to serve without regard for personal time, family responsibilities, or mental well-being. Our lives are being reduced to perpetual service, with no space for recovery or balance. This is unsustainable, and the mental toll is already being felt among staff.”

As a result of these grievances, the doctors are calling for four immediate actions: the review and revocation of the current on-call directive; the development of a revised, humane, and legally compliant policy created through consultation with healthcare workers; fair compensation that reflects the value of their work; and guarantees that doctors will not face punishment for exercising their right to speak out. “We, the doctors of Region 4, are not machines—and we are certainly not slaves,” the doctors said.

When contacted by Kaieteur News, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Narine Singh stated that he had not received any formal communication from the doctors and would only respond to official complaints. “They have not written to us; we can’t respond to an anonymous complaint,” Dr. Singh said, adding that a public statement will be issued on Wednesday. Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony echoed a similar stance, stating, “The ministry is not in receipt of any complaints.”

Kaieteur News also reached out to Gerald Forde, an executive member of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), who confirmed that around 20 doctors are affected and have expressed concerns. However, he noted that no formal complaint had been submitted to the union. “As far as I know, they did not contact the union officially. I don’t know who wrote the article,” Forde said. He further commented, “It is true that doctors are working for the low pay and are working those exact hours, and we are trying to work on the situation,” he said. Forde assured that the union is willing to assist the doctors only if the doctors reach out to the union. “The union is committed in resolving the issue. Someone has to come forward so that we can deal with it,” he urged.

Dr. Frank Anthony, Enmore hospitals, Government Medical Officers, Guyana Hospitals, Narine Singh, on-call shifts, Region 4 doctors

1 thoughts on “Region 4 doctors decry new mandatory on-call shifts at Diamond, Enmore regional hospitals”

Vishwanauth Laikram June 10, 2025 at 1:36 pm

Most of these doctors work at private hospital so this will hamper their side Hussle. They attend to the private hospital before going to the government hospital which cause the public have to wait long hours to see a doctor and they take more than one hour Lunch.

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