BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH the Chief Medical Officer – Dr. Patrick Martin - on pre-retirement leave, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis will be looking for a suitably qualified individual to act in his stead.
And many questions have emanated from several quarters about who is the individual/individuals being considered for the onerous task.
SKNVibes spoke with Minister of Health the Hon. Eugene Hamilton to find out if the Government has at least begun the search for Dr. Martin’s successor.
He did not say much save to indicate that staffing is the responsibility of the Government’s Human Resource Department.
“If there is need for human resources in the public service, the Human Resource Department of the Government will carry out that function.”
In an attempt to gain further insight into the process, SKNVibes made contact with the Government’s Chief Personnel Officer, Torfrida Rochester, who although was asked questions specifically to the CMO’s position, broadly indicated that “I know the Government is taking steps to ensure that all of its offices are properly manned and are being served”.
Sometime late last week, Dr. Martin, who has been the CMO for some 12 years, was sent on pre-retirement leave after which his services in that capacity would be terminated.
Martin had earlier explained to SKNVibes his belief that one of the reasons for the move was because of the position he took on a stem cell research project which was being conducted at the Joseph N. France General Hospital.
“This treatment did not receive the requisite medical clearance. I intervened according to the provisions of the Medical Act and the Public Health Act. There was a foreign doctor at JNF practicing without a licence and so the Medical Act was invoked. The Medical Act said you have to be registered and licenced to practice in the Federation.”
Martin – who is past the age of retirement – said this was not the only incident that led him to believe he would have been sent on leave.
On the same day that Martin was sent on leave, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Andrew Skerritt was also sent on leave, effectively leaving the country with two of its top health offices vacant.
According to the Public Health Act, there “shall” be a Chief Medical Officer and, on his weekly radio programme on WINNFM ‘The Operating Room’, former Minister of Government G. A. Dwyer Astaphan claimed that he was informed of two individuals who were approached to be the CMO but both rejected the offer.
Dr. Martin has been serving as the CMO since 2004 and for some four years prior served as the Medical Chief of Staff.
