GPHC’s paediatric heart surgery programme in jeopardy

May 18, 2017 News

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– financial accountability, other issues linked to dilemma

Just over two years ago, Guyana, through the Ministry of Public Health, together with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC], forged what was described as a tactical partnership with the United States-based International

Children’s Heart Foundation, commonly known as the Baby Heart Foundation.
The intent was to take advantage of the paediatric cardiac expertise of the Foundation in the quest to tackle ever-prevailing cases of congenital heart diseases, many of which were not treatable here in Guyana.
The Foundation, which is driven by donor and volunteer support, has to date conducted more than 7,000 paediatric surgeries globally. Scores of these surgeries have been conducted at the GPHC as a result of the existing partnership, which has seen the Foundation sending a team of experts to Guyana multiple times per year to conduct surgeries.
Dr. Rodrigo Soto, the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer of Clinical Operations and lead Surgeon, had in March, during a planned visit, informed that since commencing surgeries here, there has been a two percent mortality rate. He’d noted then that “In general terms it is important for the community to know this programme has a mortality [rate] of only two percent in two years,” said Dr. Soto.
He continued by making reference to the fact that even in a developed country like the United States with a similar patient cohort, the mortality rate is three percent. Over in Europe, he informed that the mortality rate is some five percent.
“So at the moment we have even better results… we are extremely happy about this. People need to know if they bring their children here [GPHC] they are in good hands, and we will really take care of them,” said Dr. Soto.
This publication however understands that during the team’s most recent visit here, there were three unsuccessful cases recorded, and while the prognosis of two of the children suggested that they had a ‘50/50’ chance of survival, the other’s death was because of a lung condition.
But based on reports reaching Kaieteur News, the relationship between Guyana and the Baby Heart Foundation has become considerably strained. It is being said that although the Baby Heart Foundation should have already returned for another round of surgeries, it has failed to send a team, a development that has been linked to financial issues.
Since the Foundation is driven by donations, it has been depending heavily on Government to fund each of its visits here.
The then-Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, had in 2015 committed to advocating for specific funding to be allocated to the Paediatric Heart Surgery programme in order to sustain the collaboration with the Baby Heart Foundation.
It was expected that this commitment would have continued, even with a change of Public Health Minister earlier this year.
This publication was reliably informed that current Minister of Health, Ms Volda Lawrence, was not fully made aware of the extent of the support that was expected of her Ministry to sustain the work of the Foundation. Indeed the Lawrence-headed Public Health Ministry had not inked any contract committing to definitive support.
But Dr. Soto was confident that the support would have been forthcoming. Although the
collaboration during its early days under the previous administration was at times fraught with some issues, it was expected that these would have been effectively resolved with the coalition A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change Government [APNU+AFC]’s ascension to office.
“The new administration has actually expressed verbal support of what we are doing. They have been on board right away with what we are doing. The current Minister [Ms. Volda Lawrence] and Junior Minister [Karen Cummings] are willing to make things smoother for us, because they realise how important the mission is that we are accomplishing here,” said Dr. Soto during an interview with this publication. In fact, he was optimistic earlier this year that the two sides would have been able to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to further concretise the collaboration.
But the financial issues this publication was told, translated to instances of the inability of certain individuals to account for monies spent on behalf of the Foundation. According to the official, while the work of the Foundation has been touted as a charitable service, it has in fact been costing government a great deal to sustain.
It was revealed that although the Ministry has been ready and willing to pay incurred costs, a move to have what has been spent accounted for properly, has reportedly resulted in several delay tactics. This has reportedly led to the Ministry’s inability to execute payment. Moreover, this publication was told that the Foundation has refused to return for a planned bout of surgeries.
But there have been even more sore issues that have surfaced regarding the programme.
This publication was informed that although part of the collaboration with the Foundation included the training of local health workers to eventually cater to congenital cases independently, there are allegations that the process has not been an especially smooth one.
Reports suggest that the visiting Foundation team has not been gaining the full support of the nursing staff.
However, an official close to GPHC revealed that several nurses have been treated with little respect during ‘purported’ training sessions. “Many of these nurses are talked down to and insulted, and they really don’t want to be a part of such a situation anymore.”
Kaieteur News in an attempt to solicit a comment from officials of the hospital, yesterday, was directed to the Public Relations Department. An official there revealed that the matter will have to be addressed by the Chief Executive Officer [ag], Mr. Alan Johnson, who was not in office at the time.
However, an official who commented on condition of anonymity said that the moves to upset the programme appear to be a deliberate tactic to jeopardise a programme that was only intended to benefit the nation.

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