CNMI Healthcare Corp. CEO Juan N. Babauta told the media yesterday that Tinian cannot go on without a doctor.
“We need a doctor immediately who can address the medical needs of the people of Tinian. We need at least two or three doctors so that they can each take some time off and won’t be called on 24/7,” Babauta said.
Babauta said that Dr. Steve Lebamoff’s contract will end in January.
He said that although Lebamoff did not state other than personal reasons in his letter, he knew Lebamoff was ‘overworked’.
“He is just on call 24/7, and I sympathize with that. We wish we could have two or three doctors on Tinian so they can have day off without being called at the hospital anytime,” Babauta said.
Babauta said that Lebamoff is on technical leave until his contract expires.
Babauta said that one of the challenges they are facing is to find exemplary doctors who would be willing to stay and serve in a small community such as Saipan and Tinian.
Babauta said that doctors are also demanding higher salaries, stating that the Commonwealth Health Center pays from $125,000 to $175,000 a year for doctors and general practitioners.
“If we find a doctor, we would go over the recurrent experience that on their day off they will be called in,” he said.
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. has just approved a new contract for Lebamoff, who has been serving Tinian as its doctor since the administration of former mayor Francisco Borja and in the early part of former mayor Jose San Nicolas’ administration.
