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Ministry probes openly corrupt practices at Regional Hospital …Doctors implicated

Apr 01, 2017 News

By Brushell Blackman
The Ministry of Public Health is now probing the activities at a Regional Hospital after a patient was allegedly asked to pay for services rendered at the government institution.
This newspaper has learnt that sometime last week, a woman took a male relative to the medical institution after he had broken his leg somewhere in the interior. The woman said to her surprise she was told that in order for the relative to be seen in a timely manner, she needed to pay $400,000.
The woman said that she told the individual (name given) that it was difficult for her to provide such a large sum, the official who works in the Orthopedic department of the hospital, suggested a lesser but still substantial sum.
“He ask me if I can find $100,000 and I said that I’m a poor woman and me ent get dem money.”
Wanting to ensure that her relative would receive the urgent medical care that was required, the woman told the hospital official that she was in possession of $40,000 at that time.
The official indicated that the amount was insufficient, since the fee that she wanted to pay has to be divided between as many as four doctors. The woman also said that she gave the official $3,000 for x-ray services that were provided.
The woman said she was informed that the relative needs a surgery performed on the broken leg based on the findings of the x-ray, but this could not be done anytime soon unless the monies are paid.
When the official who was fingered in the alleged skullduggery was contacted, he did admit to this newspaper that he collected the $3,000 from the woman. When asked why that was so, as the hospital is a government institution, the official said that it is a common practice that is ongoing at that particular institution. The official said that he did not ask the woman to pay any money, but he suggested that there is a particular doctor who is the ringleader in this ‘pay for service’ circle of operators. Further, it was disclosed that there exists a network of doctors who are extorting monies from patients with a promise of expeditious care.
The official who is at the heart of the investigation said that the issue is now engaging the attention of the hospital authorities and there will be a meeting with the medical supervisor on Monday. He claimed that he is being framed to take the fall for the corruption that is ongoing at the institution.
The official said that he will await advice from his lawyer and at some point he will tell all that is going on at the hospital. He has indicated that the malfeasance there is widespread.
When contacted, an official at the Ministry of Public Health confirmed that they were told about the same situation and the Ministry has launched an investigation into the operations of the hospital.

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