Junior doctors get salary increases in new agreement

The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) has signed a new five-year industrial agreement with the Bahamas Doctors Union (BDU), paving the way for salary increases and improved benefits for more than 300 junior doctors across the country.

The long-awaited agreement comes after months of contention between the BDU and the government, with junior doctors working without a current contract since the last agreement expired in 2021. This new deal is retroactive and will remain in effect until 2026.

Minister of Labour Pia Glover-Rolle underscored the importance of the agreement, noting that fair working conditions for healthcare professionals are critical to ensuring the delivery of quality care to the Bahamian public.

She also described labour relations in the country as “stable,” despite the delays leading up to this resolution.

One of the key points of concern during negotiations involved the definition of “consecutive hours” and how overtime is calculated. Previously, the BDU had called for clarity and fairness around compensation for doctors who work back-to-back shifts — such as a day shift followed immediately by an on-call or night shift.

According to Dr. Camille Glinton of the BDU, the new agreement addresses these issues, ensuring that doctors in such scenarios will now be compensated for working consecutive hours.