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Health corporation to absorb unpaid wages of Rota nurses
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Posted on Jun 23 2011
Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola said yesterday that the municipality still owes its nurses over $100,000 in unpaid wages since last year but, with the expected transfer of the Rota Health Center from the municipality to the Public Health Corporation, he said these past dues will be absorbed and shouldered by the new corporation.
Starting Oct. 1, both the Rota and Tinian health centers will function as divisions of the corporation, along with the Commonwealth Health Center. The corporation will operate as an independent department administered by a board.
Unlike the Tinian mayor, Mendiola is willing to let go of the center, saying the Department of Public Health is the right agency to manage its operations.
“For me, it would be beneficial if all health centers will function under one management and that’s the corporation. I believe this will ensure that direct assistance and direct placement of staff will be met,” Mendiola told Saipan Tribune.
He assured, though, that the municipality would still monitor the Rota Health Center to make sure island residents get their needed treatment.
Under the present setup, municipalities on Tinian and Rota have jurisdiction over their health centers and provide the annual budget for their operation. The Department of Public Health only provides medical and technical assistance if needed.
Last week, Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said that a comprehensive evaluation of all health centers on three islands is ongoing. The findings, he said, will determine the actual staffing and budget needs of each center.
Mendiola said the Rota Health Center currently has eight nurses and two physicians.
The municipality’s past dues cover the salary of the five nurses hired from the Saipan Employment Agency and Services, he said. The three other nurses were hired directly for the center.
In March, the Fitial administration placed Rota Health Center under a state of emergency to be able to reprogram $50,000 so it could pay the nurses.
Meantime, the Tinian Health Center has about 15 nurses while CHC has 175 nurses onboard.
