Tribunal Rules 91-Hour Weeks Illegal for 3 Types of Hospital Medical Specialists

The Mauritian Ministry of Health is facing a monumental restructuring of its hospital services after the Employment Relations Tribunal (ERT) ruled that the mandatory 24/7 working system for medical specialists is unlawful.

In a landmark decision delivered on 15 January, the tribunal described the shift patterns—imposed since August 2022—as an “illegal and unilateral change” to doctors’ working conditions.

The ruling has sparked immediate demands for the system’s abolition, with the Government Medical and Dental Officers Association (GMDOA) calling for an end to the “marathon” shifts that have seen specialists working up to 31 consecutive hours.

“A Masterful Slap”

The ERT, chaired by Vice-President Shameer Janhangeer, found that the 24/7 roster forced obstetricians, gynaecologists, paediatricians, and anaesthetists into grueling schedules of 67 to 91 hours per week.

Dr Meetheelesh Abeeluck, President of the GMDOA, hailed the verdict as a “masterful slap” to the Ministry of Health.

The union has formally written to the Ministry’s Senior Chief Executive demanding an immediate return to the traditional “on-call and in attendance” system currently used by other specialists in the public sector.

Ministry Silence Amid Safety Concerns

While the Cabinet of Ministers acknowledged the ruling on Friday, Health Minister Anil Bachoo has remained silent.

Despite his usual penchant for posting “surprise” hospital visits on Facebook, the Minister was unreachable for comment.

Sources within the Ministry suggest that while they cannot ignore the tribunal’s decision, an overnight change is practically impossible.

The 24/7 system was originally implemented in 2022 as a measure to curb maternal and infant mortality during childbirth.

Officials have reportedly commissioned a study into the impact of the 24/7 system before any transition back to the old model can take place.

New Medical Grade Proposed

To address the long-standing staffing crisis, the Ministry is reportedly considering the creation of a “Registrar” grade—a middle-tier position between General Practitioners and Specialists.

Though first suggested in the 2008 Pay Research Bureau report and discussed by former Health Minister Anwar Husnoo in 2017, the initiative was shelved by his successors.

The introduction of Registrars is now being viewed as a potential solution to ease the burden on senior specialists while maintaining hospital coverage.

For now, the medical community awaits a formal timeline from the Ministry on when the illegal shift patterns will cease, as the government begins a full re-evaluation of specialist working arrangements.

Source: Defi Media