24 Nov 2008

CNMI hospital may have to reduce surgeries

11:19 am on 24 November 2008

The Northern Marianas' Hospital Administration says the Commonwealth Health Centre or CHC may have to reduce elective surgeries if they are not able to hire another anesthesiologist.

CHC currently employs two anesthesiologists, but one is leaving soon and the other one has indicated he is reluctant to stay on board if he is the sole anesthesiologist at the hospital

The CHC's deputy secretary, Pete Untalan, says hospital officials have been looking for a third anesthesiologist for about a year but have been unsuccessful.

He says the primary issue is salary.

Salaries for medical professionals currently are capped at 50,000 US dollars, but the House and Senate have passed a bill raising the cap.

It is currently awaiting Governor Benigno Fitial's signature to become law.

The Governor earlier vetoed a bill exempting medical professionals, attorneys, accountants, engineers, and architects working in government from the $50,000 cap.

The bill also would have allowed unspecified professionals working at the Legislature and the Judiciary to receive up to $60,000 a year.

Governor Fitial said he vetoed the bill because the language was too vague.