Dr. Alfred Dawes, PNP Spokesperson, Demands Justice for Healthcare Workers Amid Islandwide Sickout

Kingston, Jamaica. February 24, 2025: Today, Jamaica’s healthcare system faces an unprecedented crisis as government medical consultants have taken the difficult decision to withdraw their services in protest of the continued failure to pay their retroactive salaries under the new compensation review for the public sector. This islandwide sickout has disrupted operations at clinics and hospitals, leaving patients in limbo and further exposing the fragility of our healthcare system.

It is deeply troubling that while the government swiftly approved and paid themselves salary increases, including retroactive payments, our medical consultants—the very professionals tasked with saving lives—are left waiting for what they are rightfully owed. This glaring inequity is not just an insult to our healthcare workers but a betrayal of the Jamaican people who depend on them for care.

Medical consultants are the cornerstone of our healthcare system. Their expertise, dedication, and leadership are vital to the delivery of quality care. Yet, they are forced to take this drastic action because the government has failed to honor its commitment to them. This is not just about money; it is about respect, fairness, and the value we place on those who dedicate their lives to serving others.

The government’s inaction sends a clear message: that the health and well-being of the nation are not a priority. While politicians did not hesitate to ensure their own financial security, they have left our healthcare workers—and by extension, the Jamaican people—to suffer the consequences of their neglect.

We call on the government to immediately address this injustice. Pay our medical consultants what they are owed. Show the same urgency and commitment to them as you did to yourselves. The time for excuses is over. The health of our nation depends on it.