2 May 2012

Over 30 resignations at CNMI Health Centre

12:27 pm on 2 May 2012

The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas could be facing a health crisis, with the health workforce dropping by more than a quarter in the past few months.

30 nurses and four doctors at the Commonwealth Health Centre have officially tendered their resignations in the last few weeks.

This comes after another 17 nurses at the Centre resigned earlier this year amid the ongoing financial crisis at the territory's lone public hospital.

The CEO of the Healthcare Corporation, Juan Babauta, says they won't be hiring new nurses to replace those who have left, but will try to cope with reduced staffing.

The loss of doctors leaves the hospital with 22 doctors and four physician assistants and Mr Babauta says they're not sure if they will recruit replacements.

Last week, the Corporation's chief financial officer Alvaro Santos said without a cash injection the hospital will not survive.

He said the hospital has had to downsize services to make it more affordable and he predicts some divisions will be shut down.