– Minister Ramsaran says Health Ministry aware of the misconduct but lamented that the public needs to be less corrupt
CHAIRMAN of the newly reconstituted Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) Health Committee, Mr. David Armogan, said Wednesday, that one of the problems plaguing the New Amsterdam Hospital is that many young doctors posted there are conducting private practice and collecting money from solicited patients at the institution.
Regional Chairman, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha agreed that members of the public are encouraging this type of behaviour by paying the doctors.
Armogan and Mustapha were in a discussion with Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who convened a meeting with the Health Committee in the New Amsterdam boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
The Minister assured the Committee, which includes People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Councillor, Ms. Rosalina Haniff, that the Health Ministry is aware of the misconduct but lamented that the public needs to be less corrupt.
“Stop complaining after paying your money,” Ramsaran urged.
He pointed out that members of the public do not need to pay for any service at New Amsterdam Hospital and explained that, once it can be provided, is an indication that the doctors were trained by the taxpayers dollars and that the institution has the facilities for the purpose.
Ramsaran admonished the Hospital Administration, noting that there is need for the errant doctors to be reprimanded.
“This is maladministration,” he declared, adding that the complaint was never in the reports that are supposed to be submitted to the Ministry and, because it has not been reported, the Ministry is unable to properly address it.
Ramsaran said, presently, the only thing being charged for is subsidised spectacles, which attracts a fee of $10,000.
He said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Mr. Leslie Cadogan will have to answer why doctors under his supervision are doing private work.
“We frown upon private practice during working hours,” Ramsaran said, maintaining that doctors on call should attend in a timely fashion.
He said he also frowns upon doctors using the hospital’s resources to do their private work and he exhorted the Committee to improve strategies, so that the public will not be inclined to pay for services.
Ramsaran said his meeting with the Committee was not merely for the sake of formality but was aimed at conducting brainstorming exchanges with its members who are more informed about the health sector in the Region.
Mustapha raised the matter of internal staffing problems and claimed the Committee is prevented from functioning effectively because staff members are not cooperating with one another.

Purpose

Ramsaran said his visit was for the purpose of ironing out such problems and observed that citizens need to know that they can be helped by the committee after making complaints.
He said many things can turn into big problems if the supervisory functions are not carried out and, as many of the committee members are elected by the public, it would be advantageous for them to reach out to the public.
Ramsaran said, through a new initiative intended to come on stream soon, will also see the new Chairman meeting with the media periodically and have this type of interaction quarterly.
He said the petty issues festering could be prevented with a more structured intervention but conceded that the problems arose partially because the Ministry left the regional committees to function independently.
Ramsaran said the Ministry is now concentrating on meeting with the committees periodically and advised that they embark on programmes involving skits, health and Town Hall fairs, among others, so that the public can be educated on their functions and what is expected of them in dealing with certain questions.
Other laments by the officers included the mosquito nuisance in the Region, the need for a vector control unit, disposal of waste in an environmentally sound manner and the necessity for medical personnel to support the meetings that are convened.
Ramsaran suggested that an officer from the municipality be present at the committee and statutory meetings.
He said that, with the resurgence of malaria, the vector control unit request will be looked at and encouraged the Committee to involve young people organisations in the issues.
With regard to the waste disposal, Ramsaran said the Ministry is looking at mounting a naming and shaming campaign as well as reviewing the fines for inappropriate means of disposing.
He said the Ministry would also look to strengthen the Regional Health Authority (RHA) by enhancing staffing.
Ramsaran said the RHA and the hospitals have been competing for the same staff at times and improving staffing will give those individuals an opportunity to focus on their work and not have to concentrate on wider duties.
He disclosed that the Ministry has, recently, recruited the services of a professor who is a specialist in destroying the larvae of about 22 dangerous species of mosquitoes by using bacteria.
Ramsaran said the methodology will not eradicate but control the situation and would  be piloted where mosquitoes are abundant.