Some NIS doctors behave inhumanely

Mar 26, 2014 Letters

Dear Sir,
Please allow me space in your paper to have my views expressed in relation to the operation of the NIS.
I attended a Medical Board examination of a number of patients at the Croal Street office, in Georgetown, a few months ago and I was amazed at the way people were treated at that meeting.
The quorum was four doctors and a senior nurse who, I am sure, are paid to attend these interviews.
My client was also a friend and he had suffered ‘back problem’ while at work at GUYSUCO, Rose Hall. He was offloading manure bags, a job he had been doing for many years.
Let me say that this man who is now about 50 years was a national athlete. Now he can barely move his legs with enough strength to carry him around. His name is Parsram Ramnnarine (I have his permission to use his name).
Ramnarine was examined at the Medical Board sitting by Dr Soni who did his four minutes examination and concluded that the MRI report was not consistent with his, Dr Soni’s findings. Ramnarine was placed on continued disability.
Prior to this Medical Board hearing, Ramnarine was not paid a cent for about three months because the NIS nurse, a Nurse Brushe had said that he had to wait on the Board’s findings. What was this family man supposed to do while he waited on the Board to convene? How was he supposed to feed his family?
Then the meetings of the Medical Board are always held in Georgetown. Why can’t these high flying doctors travel to Berbice and save the dependent persons some bread and butter money?
There was a meeting in Berbice at the office in New Amsterdam and again I attended with Ramnarine. There was a Dr. Hussain who did not even look at him. The doctor simply said, “You have to go back to the medical board.”
I am not medical person but how can you as a doctor simply conclude that a person is even remotely well enough to travel without looking at the person? I was there, in a seat next to my friend. He was called a few days ago to attend a meeting at the Medical Board and –guess what? Ramnarine was deemed fit to go back to work.
The man cannot walk straight; how can he lift manure bags when he cannot lift his grocery bag?
While I am at it I might as well make mention of the number of persons who have ‘missing contributions’ and are deemed to be not qualified for benefits. And some of these persons will have worked for thirty years and more at GUYSUCO and other companies.
To add insult to injury when these persons complain after their claims are rejected, they are told to appeal.
The whole business of NIS needs to be revamped and the management of the pension fund re-structured.
All in the interest of hard working Guyanese. I wish to suggest that more care is given to the people who have to receive benefits.
Charrandass Persaud

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Some NIS doctors behave inhumanely

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