Why are Jamaica's public sector doctors taking industrial action, and how did a dispute over overtime pay reach this point?

On October 2, 2026, Jamaica's public sector doctors took industrial action, providing emergency services only.

JMDA President Dr. Jubilee Brown-Service joins Dr. Matthew Preston and Dr. Thaon Simms to explain the association's position, the dispute over emergency duty pay, the differing estimates of J$31 billion and J$23 billion, and why doctors are still waiting for a ruling from the Industrial Disputes Tribunal.

We also discuss 48- and 72-hour shifts, the effects of sleep deprivation, unpaid working hours, patient care and what a resolution could look like.

📊 Highlights & Chapters:

0:00 - 4:23 | 🎙️ Why Jamaica's doctors took industrial action

4:23 - 9:07 | 🩺 Meet the JMDA president and understand the association's role

9:07 - 14:05 | ⏰ What is the dispute over doctors' overtime pay?

14:05 - 17:54 | 😴 Long shifts, sleep deprivation and patient safety

17:54 - 22:01 | 📅 42 months waiting: The dispute and IDT proceedings

22:01 - 29:27 | 💰 J$31 billion vs J$23 billion and unpaid overtime

29:27 - 34:09 | ⚖️ Why negotiations failed and the dispute reached the IDT

34:09 - 37:54 | 🏥 Why doctors are still waiting for a ruling

37:54 - 43:13 | 🚑 Emergency services, patient care and a possible resolution

43:13 - 48:27 | 🎤 The JMDA president's message to doctors and the public

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❓ What questions do you still have about the doctors' overtime dispute or its effect on Jamaica's public healthcare system?

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