Inos said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial will again exercise his executive powers under the CNMI Constitution to address the manpower shortage at the islands’ only public hospital.
He said the E.O. is being drafted and may be ready within the week.
“We’re hoping to get the final draft within the next day or two,” he added.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said the draft is being reviewed for legal sufficiency before it is submitted to the governor for his signature.
According to Inos, the emergency declaration should exempt CHC from the government hiring ban on foreigners.
CHC should have U.S.-certified doctors or their equivalent from Canada and other developed countries.
The administration’s plan is to bring doctors from the Philippines.
At least six doctors from the Philippines may be hired, Inos said.
“We’re going to have the right mixed. We would need to have our own expert in just about every [health] area.”
He said because Philippine doctors are not U.S. certified they will work under the supervision of U.S. certified doctors, but the Philippine doctors can see and treat patients.
“Under the current circumstances, we need to bring in foreign doctors to address our shortage,” Inos said.
Some local residents interviewed by this reporter are wary of non-U.S. certified doctors.
But Inos who underwent a bypass operation at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Metro Manila, said the Philippines has some of the best trained medical professionals in the world.
He said negative impressions about doctors from the Philippines are just myths.
“We just have to change the culture and the mindset of the community,” he added.
Doctors, regardless of their race, have the same mission — to treat patients and save lives, he said.
Some hospital staff, however, raised concerns about the possible disparity between the wages of non-U.S. and U.S. certified doctors which may sow demoralization among the medical staff.
Concerns were also raised on whether the doctors will be hired directly or through an employment agency.
