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Deficiencies prevail in the health sector – Minister Ramsammy

Nov 26, 2010 News

Although there have been remarkable strides in improving the delivery of health care, there are prevailing deficiencies and gaps that must be eliminated if the system is to progress. Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, recently made this assertion.
This state of affairs is allowed to persist mainly because the public health sector does not have adequate resources, the Minister pointed out. However, he noted that there are some prevailing deficiencies that are not remotely related to the lack of resources.
Ramsammy explained that health workers are not only required to make diagnoses and to provide medicine, but should recognise that they are in the business of making people better.
He stated that it is not every time that the provision of health care is based on making a diagnosis of an illness and treating such illnesses. He emphasised that health care includes treating people with dignity, kindness, sensitivity and with care.
The minister revealed that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, for example, has a single fundamental motto that is very simple, and that is shared with the Ministry of Health and the Government.
“You cannot care when you are insensitive to people. You cannot care when you do not speak to people properly. You cannot care unless you see everyone that comes to us as our sisters and brothers…”
And while most health workers meet the recommended requirement, Dr. Ramsammy conceded that there are some who do not live up to the desired expectation. He lamented the fact that some workers have not been very welcoming at several health centres and hospitals.
“We will condemn such behaviour that occurs in our health facilities. We will not pull any screen over our eyes. We will concede that it happens and we ask the public to join us because for us at the Ministry of Health we have tried cajoling, we have tried providing training at every level and we tried various incentives but such behaviour, albeit among a small number of health workers, persists.”
The Ministry, he said, is declaring zero tolerance for such unacceptable behaviour. In addition, he noted that all union representatives are being urged to embrace this move, which is likely to incorporate immediate disciplinary action.
“This is not about giving people one more chance and another chance….”
But even with this measure in place, Dr. Ramsammy cautioned that this does not mean that members of the public can demand that they be seen immediately when they visit public health facilities.
In accepting the fact that persons are made to feel impatient in their wait for medical attention, the Minister revealed that in some institutions there will be waiting time.
“I do not think that people unreasonably rebel against waiting. I think people rebel and complain when waiting is under certain conditions. Keeping people waiting for a reasonable amount of time does not mean that during that waiting we demonstrate uncaring attitudes.”
Although the provision of health is made available by doctors, nurses and other trained health officials, Minister Ramsammy noted that other levels of workers such as cleaners, receptions and security guards can sometimes prove to be a part of the problem.
“They are not doctors, they are not triage nurses, they are not pharmacists.
They have absolutely no right to turn people back at our gates or at our doors. If anyone is sent home to come back, it is the task of the health care providers that are in charge.”
Additionally, the Minister highlighted that health care is provided in the public sector absolutely free, noting that every doctor in the sector is a doctor paid for by the Government, thus no out of pocket payment is required by anyone, even foreigners, seeking service of the public health sector. However, with the introduction of treatment guidelines recently introduced by the Health Ministry in collaboration with USAID, it is expected that the sector will be poised for a process of transformation.

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