Doctors call for financial transparency from Medical Council

Senior Reporter

rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt

A group of local doctors is calling for financial transparency from the Medical Council of the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago (MBTT) following allegations of extravagant spending and funds unaccounted for.

The Doctors’ Ethics and Autonomy Lobby (DEAL) has filed a formal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, seeking access to the board’s financial records, including details on “lavish events and unapproved expenditures.”

DEAL claims the council has been operating without proper oversight despite managing assets worth $37 million—funds sourced entirely from membership fees.

Dr Rajiv Seereeram, a leading member of DEAL, voiced concern over the lack of transparency.

“The council has failed to provide audited financials for several terms,” Seereeram stated, highlighting costly events such as a 2023 Induction Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency, a retreat at Magdalena Grand, and a conference in Bali.

“We’re not against gatherings, but these are extravagant for a regulatory body,” he added. DEAL alleged that the council’s spending is “reckless and lacks accountability.”

In addition to the FOIA request, DEAL has called for the immediate suspension of non-essential spending until full financial transparency is achieved.

DEAL said a plan of expenditure or budget for upcoming events must be presented by the council for prior approval. They are also urging all members of the medical community to demand greater accountability from the council.

“Doctors deserve to know where their money is going,” Seereeram insisted.

The situation is compounded by the council’s push for amendments to the Medical Board Act, which could reduce financial oversight and exempt the council from liability.

Seereeram described the move as a “betrayal of trust” and criticised the board for failing to provide basic financial transparency.

The profession is facing its own crisis, with many doctors unemployed or working on short-term contracts.

“There are hundreds of young doctors working on three-week contracts, while others remain unemployed,” Seereeram noted.

DEAL’s demands for transparency include audited financials, credit card statements, and budgets for the MBTT’s recent events, but their requests have gone unanswered.

“How can we trust a council that refuses to disclose how it spends doctors’ contributions?” Seereeram asked.

Further complicating the matter is a separate FOIA request filed by attorney Riad J Ramsaran on behalf of a client, seeking financial records from the MBTT.

“This isn’t just about DEAL. Others are also questioning how the Council is managing its funds,” Seereeram said.

MBTT president: Forensic audit ongoing; we are committed to accountability

As pressure mounts, MBTT president Dr Neil Singh confirmed the organisation was undergoing a comprehensive forensic audit covering the past five years.

“This is the first time in the board’s history that we’re conducting a forensic audit,” Singh explained, clarifying that the board’s funding comes from annual retention fees paid by doctors.

He emphasised that spending was focused on activities directly related to the regulation of doctors. Singh assured that the council was committed to financial accountability and presented annual financial statements at its AGMs, as required by the Medical Board Act.

In response to DEAL’s concerns, Singh outlined several reforms, including the hiring of a general manager and an accountant to improve financial oversight.

Singh also noted the council’s ongoing efforts to enhance communication with its members.

He said a new website is under development to increase transparency, and non-council board members are actively integrated into sub-committees.

“We’re working on improving communication and transparency,” he said, mentioning the frequency of special general meetings and consultations held this year.

Singh expressed confidence that the ongoing reforms would restore trust in the MBTT and the audit would lead to a more transparent and efficient organisation.

While the reforms are underway, DEAL and many in the medical community remain vigilant, pressing for immediate action. “This isn’t just about finances—it’s about trust, and right now, the council has broken that trust,” Seereeram added.

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