The Western Health Board can provide the full range of regional health services in the absence of public health doctors who are on strike, the chief executive officer, Dr Sheelah Ryan, has said.
At a meeting of the board on Monday, Dr Ryan said: "It would be wrong to say there are not effects in the region because of this dispute, because it is a valued service. But, as with any industrial dispute, there is a requirement to come up with contingency plans, and we have endeavoured to put these plans in place.
"It is not in any way to undermine the dispute but we have to put patient care first.
"However, I don't have concerns about the dispute because we have a wide range of people in all areas we can call on to protect people's health.
"There have been recent media reports creating anxiety about possible outbreaks of infectious diseases, but I can assure you that everything that should be done is being done. That doesn't mean we wouldn't welcome a resolution."
She added it was regrettable the first word the board heard about the dispute was when news appeared in the papers.
"We tried to work with the GPs so I regret it has happened. Maybe if there are more consultations internally, they can be avoided in future."
Dr Ryan said she was a former public health doctor, and that was her background. "In terms of the future, we are all anxious that this dispute would be resolved in a way that would help us to go forward. However, it isn't a function of the health board to talk to the Minister for Health or his department on this. There are proper channels for that.
"If members wish, however, maybe the board could endorse a letter sent to the Minister asking him to bring this to a speedy conclusion."
Cllr John Flannery criticised the situation which had led to professional people marching outside hospitals rather than carrying out their proper jobs inside.
"When we see people outside the gates that should be doing medical jobs and dealing with the business they are professionally trained to do, it's just not good enough."