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Patients should exhaust local expertise before seeking overseas intervention

Sep 13, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I have seen an article in KN (8/9/08) in relation to Nicola Blades who, unfortunately, has a three-year history of paralysis of her legs.

It strikes me that there is an unending frequency where Guyanese opt for overseas treatment as a solution to their problems, and many go as far as India in search of medical help.

Clearly, this is an indication of grave deficiencies in the system. Coming back to the case of Nicola Blades, I was wondering whether she did indeed use the available neurological expertise resident in Guyana, and I think that, as a general rule before soliciting financial assistance from well-wishers, a pre-condition should be placed to ensure that the best opinion in Guyana be first sought, and only after it is deemed worthwhile or helpful should fund-raising be permitted.

In this regard, the Minister of Health should monitor all such fund-raising activities to satisfy himself that it is necessary or useful in the circumstances, and only after the patient would have exhausted all available local expertise. Fund-raising activities are lengthy and clearly do not apply to emergencies.

I know for a fact that the regional expertise in neurology resides in Guyana, and I am not aware that this patient with a manifest neurological problem has sought to take advantage of it.

It occurs to me that, in her quest for medical help, she was seen by orthopaedic practitioners, who ought to have known that hers was a matter of neurological import.

In the circumstances, therefore, I strongly suggest that the person afflicted take advantage of the resources available locally, and the minster himself should take a look at these fund-raising activities. In addition, he may wish to add neurological services to the health sector in this country.
Carl Hanoman

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