Policy Analyst Director Dr. Zungia Resigns

Love News has confirmed that the Policy Analyst Director Dr. Zungia handed in his resignation to the Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard. Two pediatricians also resigned from the ministry this month. The media asked Minister Kevin Bernard if these resignations are concerning. 
 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “Dr.Zuniga has opted to resign. That is his choice. I don’t know that there is any issues in terms of personal issues within the Ministry with him but I know that I can tell you that I am very pleased with the work that Dr.Zuniga has been doing. I would have hoped that he would have been able to reconsider and stay on but it is his choice. Now in terms of the pediatrician those are from the NHI. We are working with right now going as well let me also say this right now because I know it will come up at some point but we’re trying to work with the whole NHI and the Ministry of Finance as you know persons working at NHI used to have a gratuity and that was during the COVID pandemic just as the 10% before this was done under the previous administration that their gratuity was withheld and so one of the concerns from these doctors working at NHI is that they want their gratuity back. So we at the ministry we have already written to the Financial Secretary and I know in Cabinet we already supported that these people need to get back their gratuity and it’s no indication that yes it’s because of that that they’re resigning. I think there are some people who as well we’re trying to find pharmacists, the government structure and the pay scale in government has at lot to do with it. People are looking at private sector but we want to encourage people to stay on board and that’s the reason why we’re looking at the whole compendium of allowances and how we can retain staff because it’s important for us to be able to ensure that we can continue to provide seamless service to the Belizean people.”