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THE IRISH MEDICAL ORGANIZATION (IMO) has endorsed plans for public health specialists to vote in favor of back-to-back industry action for consultant contracts.
It follows what they described as a “deeply disappointing” meeting with the Health Department yesterday.
At the AGM of the Irish Medical Organization last night, members voted in favor of the decision to vote on strike if some 60 health specialists do not receive the rank of consultants.
Public health specialists, whose role is to research and control diseases like Covid-19, currently earn less than their fellow consultants.
IMO President Dr. Padraig McGarry told the General Shareholders’ Meeting that while only 60 public health physicians were involved in this issue, the 6,000 members of the organization supported his campaign.
He said: “In the midst of a global pandemic, the Government is disrespecting our public health leaders and discouraging the next generation from working here, even as other countries are trying to recruit them.
“This government praises public health physicians on the one hand and dismisses their just demand for consultant contracts on the other.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the vital role our public health colleagues play in our health service.
“Their demand for a consultant contract is just and urgent and all the doctors support them in their campaign to get it.”
IMO AGM votes to support public health physicians’ decision to vote for industrial action in their campaign for the consultant contract.
The surprise motion follows a “deeply disappointing” meeting on the issue with the Department of Health https://t.co/IUNNUGbLHo#RespectPHD
– Irish Medical Organization (@IMO_IRL) October 29, 2020
There are currently 254 public health experts in the country, although only 60 of that number are seeking consultant contracts.
In September, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was reported to have secured € 16 million in funding to hire 250 public health specialists, effectively doubling the workforce.
At the time, the Cabinet passed legislation that paved the way for salary increases and new contractual arrangements.
Public health chiefs set a two-month deadline warning that they would vote for an industrial action before Christmas if the problem was not resolved.
The IMO now says the process is being thwarted and has backed the call for a vote.
IMO Public Health Committee Chair Dr Ina Kelly said yesterday’s meeting with the Health Department had “made the situation worse.”
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She said: “We went hoping to move on, but we have left more frustrated and angry.
“The department believes it can delay this issue and link it to future structures and reforms.
“We will certainly discuss and participate in much-needed reforms, but we will do so as consultants and not before we have secured that long-awaited respect.
“While we remain available for talks, it appears that we have no choice but to proceed with our vote before the end of November, which was already agreed at a meeting of IMO members.
“No doctor wants to take industrial action, but such is the disappointment, frustration and low morale of our members at the lack of respect from the Government, that we expect to receive an overwhelming mandate.
“The Public Health Committee will hold a series of meetings in the coming weeks to plan the vote and any industrial action that we hope is not necessary, but that we must plan.”
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