IT is not that Government has not been funding the State health sector, for there to be accusations of insufficiency of funding that are responsible for deaths that are deemed to be preventable.

In fact, this sector receives the second highest allocation of the annual budget, with the following sums for 2010 ($13.3B), 2011 ($14B), 2012 ($17.5B), 2013 ($19.2B), and 2014 ($21.5B), underlining government’s priority of the delivery of quality health care to the nation.

We are all too well aware, those of us who remember, as to the painful experiences of the pre-1992, People’s National Congress (PNC) regime’s State health services that could only have been described as a scandal.

Therefore, as the individual figures indicate, these are multi-billion dollars that have been guided by a blueprint, with the primary objective of the complete overhaul of the national health sector.

From post-1992, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s development programme has been providing and replacing vital infrastructure such as newly built hospitals and health centres; adequately trained medical personnel and expanded services, all towards the physical and mental wellness of those seeking assistance from its many locations. It is still a work in progress, because of the need to constantly improve and provide health care delivery to the nation.

What must be emphasised is that any government that makes its national health services a national priority, especially with the kind of exponential investments, is not on a grandiose show; but instead, one that understands the importance of a healthy nation, especially its role in nation building.

Its deserved expectations, therefore, will be that those critical personnel are expected to deliver the kind of service proximal to the high levels of investments made, translating into a satisfactory professional service at all times. This is as much a legitimate expectation by those who have cause to access its assistance, as well as by the general public.

Therefore, the many maternal deaths, and other types, which even medical opinion have agreed were preventable, do not give credit to a sector on which so much money have been spent. As a matter of fact, such occurrences are not in any way fair to a government that has been emphasising quality health care for the nation.

Only recently, the deaths of two newly born were reported in the media, with one of the two young mothers alleging what can only be described as very unprofessional, degrading and inhumane treatment by medical staff, if indeed true.

And the fact that the first death anniversary of four year-old Jaden Mars, who died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, in 2013, could have attracted a candle light vigil, that included persons who reportedly had relatives dying at the institution, should be a reminder of public sentiments towards our national health system, which has continued to attract across the board criticisms, despite its many good efforts.
It is true that the Ministry of Health has been continuously re-appraising its departmental systems, particularly in light of maternal deaths, as it has several times expressed its concern and displeasure over this category of deaths. But, be it as it may, there is a very urgent need for greater professional care to be taken with this type of patient, especially if there are attendant challenging health issues.

We do believe that an appropriately specialised physician be present, more so at delivery, the point when most of the complications do appear to surface/commence.

We also offer the view that junior doctors work under the guidance of senior doctors, particularly where patients are seen to be ill with very serious health problems.
Finally, it is time that especially doctors are severely disciplined for gross neglect/incompetence that would have led to patient deaths. For this to happen, the Medical Council must be prepared to be condign, once investigations lead to the guilty party. The numerous efforts at providing competent health care services to the nation ought not to be tarnished by professional incompetence.