IMO seeks pay assessment in proposals to Commission

It said the review should assess “the attractiveness of the Irish health services” as an employer in terms of pay and conditions relative to other English-speaking jurisdictions, such as Australia and Canada.

The effects of the FEMPI Acts, 2009-2015 should be withdrawn as they apply to medical practitioners, according to the submission.  Moreover, the 30 per cent unilateral pay cut imposed on consultant doctors in 2012 “must be completely reversed, to restore pay parity among colleagues”.

The document calls for grants, support schemes and tax benefits for NCHDs to ensure that all costs associated with NCHDs’ training are borne by the HSE

“A new contract for consultants in Public Health Medicine should be drawn up and offered to new entrants and existing specialists in Public Health Medicine, placing such physicians on par with their consultant colleagues in terms of remuneration, and with regard to out-of- hours arrangements,” it adds.

“A supported recruitment and retention programme, specifically designed at attracting Irish-trained doctors back to Ireland must be developed. Tax relief on loan repayments for graduate entry medical students must be provided.”

The submission also underlined the need for new NCHD and consultant contracts to be negotiated.