Healthy Ministry Clarifies Its Position About RHA Staffing; Says No Halt On Hiring Staff And No Contract Terminations

The Ministry of Health has clarified its position on staffing within the Regional Health Authorities, stating that it is unaware of any policy directive for RHAs to halt hiring or arbitrarily terminate staff contracts. In a media release issued on June 10th, the Ministry clarified that no directive was given to stop recruitment or arbitrarily terminate employment within the RHAs. It said staffing decisions remain under the oversight of the Ministry, especially in the absence of formally appointed RHA Boards. According to the release, Chief Executive Officers at the RHAs continue to manage human resources to ensure that patient care and health service delivery are not compromised, while staying within financial constraints. This reassurance comes as the RHAs have jointly requested nearly $400 million in additional funds to address outstanding payments, as part of the Mid-Year Budget Review. The Ministry says it has been in continuous dialogue with the RHAs to support operations, including new hires and contract renewals, until board appointments are finalised. Officials stressed that these administrative steps have not disrupted essential health services and reaffirmed that the well-being of citizens remains the government’s top priority.