The Ministry of Health has announced that nine roles within the allied healthcare sector will be eligible for overtime payment for a duration of six months. This announcement was communicated to medical superintendents, divisional medical officers, and heads of cost centers through an internal circular issued on Friday.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) sanctioned overtime payments for several positions categorized under Band F salary. The roles eligible for this overtime include medical imaging technologist, senior pharmacy technician, biomedical technical officer, dental technician, junior physiotherapists, health inspector, tobacco control enforcement officer, supervisory dietician, and medical laboratory scientists. The new overtime policy is effective from November 7 for the specified period.
However, it is important to note that a request to extend overtime payment for the higher-grade technical officer position at Labasa Hospital was not approved.
There have been ongoing concerns about the Ministry of Civil Service’s (MCS) recent policy regarding overtime and time-off in lieu (TOIL), which has reportedly affected the efficiency of service delivery at the CWM radiology and pharmacy departments. In response, MCS permanent secretary Parmesh Chand indicated that revisions had been made to the policy following discussions and feedback from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
This update reflects a move towards recognizing the hard work of healthcare staff during challenging times, ensuring that essential services continue while addressing workforce concerns. It shows a commitment to improving working conditions, even if only temporarily, and highlights the importance of ongoing communication between government ministries to enhance the overall healthcare system.
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