NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS COUNCIL

Monday January 30, 2012

Five new members have been appointed to the Allied Health Professionals Council by Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, to serve a three-year term.

Recently approved by Cabinet, the new appointees are Mrs. Rosetta Samuel, Dr. Carl F. Omari Dawson, Mr. Neil Hawke, Mrs. Glencia Pickering and Ms. Aketha Penn. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Irad Potter, also serves on the Council as an ex officio member and Registrar.

Following its inaugural meeting convened last Monday, Mrs. Rosetta Samuel, a Medical Laboratory Technologist, has also been appointed to serve as Chairman, on the advice of Council members.
“The newly appointed Chairman, and each of the members, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in their respective fields to the Council,” Minister Skelton stated

The Medical Act, 2000 provides for the licensing and regulation of allied health practitioners in the Territory, through the establishment of an Allied Health Professionals Council. The Act stipulates that the Council shall consist of the Chief Medical Officer, ex officio; one medical practitioner appointed by the Minister; and four Allied Health Professionals appointed by the Minister.
Among other duties, the role of the Council is to consider and provide guidance as it relates to applications of persons interested in being registered as Allied Health Practitioners.

This category of health workers includes dieticians, pharmacists, chiropractors, medical laboratory technologists, opticians, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, environmental health inspectors, imaging technologists and naturopaths.
The Council is also empowered to institute disciplinary proceedings against persons who fail to comply with the relevant prohibitions or requirements of the Medical Act, 2000.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development encourages all health practitioners operating in the Territory to remain current in their registration in order to avoid penalties under the Medical Act. For more information please contact the Secretary to the Council, Mrs. Josephine Maduro, at 494-3701 extension 2168 or bviahpc@yahoo.com.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development endeavours to provide leadership that promotes health, social well being and a safe environment.