A majority 1,500 doctors practicing illegally in Jamaica
May 07, 2006
JUST about 60 per cent or six of every 10 doctors in Jamaica are unlicensed and practicing illegally, but while the situation concerns the Medical Council of Jamaica (MCJ), the watchdog is soft-pedalling on plans to alert the public to the delinquents.
The registration deadline for this year passed on January 31, but a majority 1,577 of the island's doctors have ignored publicly placed advertisements urging them to update their licences.
The sticking point appears to be a failure by some doctors to complete the mandatory hours of continuing education stipulated in law to keep doctors on top of their game.
"There are 2,673 on the medical register but only 1,096 have paid up over the first four months of the year," said MCJ registrar Dr John McHardy.
"However, no one has been struck off for non-payment."
McHardy was at first unwilling to speak to the legal implications, but he confirmed that if a complaint were to be filed against an unlicensed doctor, the medical council would be forced to prosecute.
In such cases, the doctor would face a criminal charge, he said. The Medical Council had initially said it would be publishing the names of the delinquent doctors in the press, but last week advised the Sunday Observer that it was considering listing the medical professionals who were compliant, instead, and publishing that list in the less accessible Jamaica Gazette.
"Well, the thing about it was the ad said if they did not register by February 28, we would publish a list of doctors that weren't registered and that put the cat among the pigeons, and people registered promptly," said Dr John McHardy, MCJ registrar.
McHardy indicated that the warning actually increased ten-fold the number of doctors who usually renew their licences.
"In previous years, only about 100 would register at all but there was a rush since the ad appeared," said the registrar.
Under the Medical Act, medical doctors are required to register with the MCJ and obtain a practicing certificate, which equates to their licence. The licence expires on January 31 each year....
Author: T. K. Whyte
Source: Jamaica Observer
