GPs Slam Ministry Over New Hours With No Talks

General practitioners (GPs) in Mauritius have voiced strong opposition to a proposed revision of their working hours, criticising the Ministry of Health for failing to engage them in any meaningful dialogue before announcing the changes. The doctors say the new schedule was imposed without prior consultation — a move they describe as disrespectful to the medical profession and potentially damaging to the quality of healthcare delivery across the island. While the specific details of the revised hours have not been fully disclosed in the original report, the backlash from GPs signals a deepening tension between frontline medical professionals and health administrators in Mauritius. Practitioners argue that any changes to working hours must take into account the realities of patient load, clinic capacity, and the physical demands placed on doctors — particularly those operating in under-resourced community settings. This episode raises a broader and recurring concern within Mauritius's public health sector: the lack of structured, transparent consultation between policymakers and the medical workforce. In a small island nation where the ratio of doctors to patients remains a point of concern, decisions that affect GP availability can have ripple effects across the entire healthcare system — from overcrowded hospitals to delayed diagnoses in rural areas. Medical associations have long called for a formal framework that ensures healthcare workers are part of the decision-making process, rather than simply being informed of outcomes after the fact. This latest dispute suggests that such a framework remains elusive. For patients, the uncertainty around GP schedules could translate into disrupted appointments, longer waiting times, and increased pressure on already strained public health facilities. The situation warrants close attention from both the Ministry of Health and civil society. As of the time of reporting, no formal response from the Ministry had been issued, and it remains unclear whether officials plan to revisit the revision process with GPs at the table. What is clear, however, is that the medical community is unwilling to accept top-down decisions without a fight — and that the Ministry risks a prolonged standoff if dialogue is not urgently prioritised. Source: Le Défi Media