The Overseas Medics of
Ireland was founded by Mr. Altaf Naqvi, Consultant General Surgeon
in 2003. OMI is a non-political organization which looks after the
interests of overseas doctors working in Ireland. OMI have been
running a regular Training and Education programme for junior
doctors every six monthly since 2003. OMI also conducted Squash,
Cricket and Badminton competitions and social gatherings in the
past. The web address of Overseas Medics of Ireland is
https://altafnaqvi.tripod.com/
The Annual Meeting of the Overseas Medics of
Ireland was conducted on May 2nd at the Millennium
Centre, Caherconlish, Limerick. The meeting was sponsored by TTM Healthcare
based in Ennis, Co. Clare.
The one day meeting was attended by a significant number
of overseas doctors and their families. The meeting was chaired by
Mr Bejoy Philip, Chairman of OMI. The overseas doctors raised a
number of issues facing them at present and the following motions
were passed.
1.
The
current system of renewal of visa based on the contract has lead to
a significant number of doctors moving out of the country. This has
in turn led to shortage of NCHDs in many hospitals across Ireland
which is currently posing a substantial risk to patient’s safety.
The proposal by the Department of Justice to introduce Stamp 1 Visa
for those already on Stamp 4 visa, was strongly opposed by the OMI
members and many doctors in the meeting expressed their view that
they would leave Ireland if that is implemented in the future.
OMI strongly calls for the immediate
restoration of 2 years renewal of Stamp 4 Visa for doctors who are
already working in the Health Services in Ireland. OMI also strongly
opposes the introduction of Stamp 1 Visa for those already on Stamp
4 Visa and requests greater clarity on the issue of eligibility of
Irish citizenship for doctors living and working in this country for
more than 60 months.
2.
The
issue of a number of Registrars in Medicine, Surgery and A &E across
Ireland being forced to get General Registration by the hospitals
was raised. This has been complicated by the new rules of the
Medical council that, those wanting to get General Registration will
need to get a certificate of completion of basic training from their
respective training bodies, which is not possible by many of the
overseas doctors due to the rules surrounding the eligibility for
same. This has lead to a scenario whereby more doctors will be
forced to leave the country due to lack of progress in their careers
and better opportunities in other countries. OMI calls for immediate withdrawal of such
restrictions and conditions being put on doctors to get the General
Registration and in turn to get the Registrar posts across Ireland.
3.
The
discrepancies in payment of Training grant across the various health
boards in HSE was discussed. One of the members raised the issue of
her/him being not paid around 8000Euros of training grant while
she/he was working in a HSE hospital, although she/he reported of
applying for the same in October – November 2009, well before the
restrictions on training grant was enforced in the first week of
February 2010.
OMI calls for all outstanding, appropriate training grant
requests made prior to February 2010 to be paid immediately and in
full as agreed by the HSE with the IMO, subsequent to the agreement
in the Labour Court.
4.
OMI
also calls for the immediate withdrawal of restrictions on doing
locums by NCHDs in the current medical council registration system
which has only lead to shortage of doctors in posts which would have
been otherwise covered by Locum NCHDs, like the out of hours GP
services and some A&E posts.
5.
OMI
members also raised the issue of establishment of staff grade posts
which has already been passed as a motion in the IMO.OMI supports
the establishment of such posts and requests the HSE to implement
the establishment of staff grade posts across Ireland as soon as
possible, which would in many ways address the shortage of doctors
being faced across the country.
6.
The
issue of number of days of annual leave as interpreted by the HSE
was discussed and it was restated to the members, that the number of
days of annual leave shall remain the same as per the old contract
(which was confirmed by IMO in their April update on the same). OMI
members were strongly advised to continue taking the same number of
annual leaves, as in the old contract.
Furthermore,
Mr Naqvi, Consultant Surgeon gave a presentation on
‘Communication skill with patients & relatives’.
Mr.
Richard Morton of TTM Healthcare gave a brief outline of the
different locum posts available in Ireland and abroad. He also gave
a presentation on CV writing and interview preparation.
Mr. Bejoy Philip, the
Chairman on OMI introduced the office bearers for 2010 – 2011.
Mr Altaf
Naqvi, Consultant Surgeon and Honorary Chairman
Dr. Narayanan Subramanian – Vice
Chairman
Dr. Aftab Khattak – Secretary
Dr. Pardeep Kumar Maheshwari -
Organising secretary
OMI members greatly appreciated the
efforts by Dr. Pardeep Kumar Maheshwari, Organising secretary and
Dr. Aftab Khattak, Secretary in organising this meeting.
OMI welcomes overseas doctors to get
involved in issues facing them by being an active member of the OMI.
Application forms for membership in the OMI can be obtained by
contacting overseasmedics@gmail.com.
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