By Belize Live News Staff: Operations at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) were severely impacted on Tuesday as over 40 employees called in sick in what appears to be a coordinated protest over unresolved pension issues.
The mass absence left several hospital departments struggling to function, with dialysis and radiology services hit the hardest. Numerous patients who had appointments were turned away, and hospital administrators scrambled to reassign staff.
The disruption comes just days after the KHMH Workers Union formally rejected the government’s proposed 4% ex gratia payment for retirees who served between 2001 and 2017. Union leaders say the offer is insufficient and fails to properly compensate long-serving workers.
Hospital management is now reportedly preparing to escalate the issue by requesting the Ministry of Labour to intervene and convene an essential services arbitration tribunal. While both sides say they are open to continued dialogue, the breakdown in negotiations has led to a visible decline in service delivery at the nation’s largest hospital.
The situation remains tense as patients, staff, and government officials await the next move.
