The Health Ministry says it is not aware of any policy directives issued by the Regional Health Authorities to stop hiring or arbitrarily terminate staff contracts.

In a statement issued today, it says in the absence of appointed RHA Boards, Chief Executive Officers under the Ministry’s oversight manage human resource matters.

This includes ensuring that staffing levels remain aligned with the service delivery goals of each institution, while also operating within their financial realities.

It adds that this oversight is especially important in light of the RHAs’ collective request for approximately $400 million in additional funding to address aged payables, submitted for the Mid-Year Budget Review.

In this context, the Ministry says it has maintained ongoing dialogue with the RHAs to ensure operational continuity, including the continuation of new hires and contract renewals, pending the appointment of the RHA Boards.