Visiting Suddie Hospital…
MINISTER within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, has pronounced that doctors on Government payroll must not be involved in private practice.
He told a high level meeting, with top regional officials last Friday, that the doctors must work at the hospital during Government time and no private practice will be allowed with Government facilities.
Ramsaran pointed out that all services at Government run hospitals are free of charge.
Speaking about gifts to doctors at Suddie Hospital, he said he received several such reports and directed the Regional Health Officer in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Dr. Allison Brown to stop such occurrences.
Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Health Ministry, Mr. Hydar Ally, echoed the pronouncement by Minister Ramsaran.
Ally said the contract doctors sign with the Government precludes them from being involved in any other economic activity.
Others at the forum included Dr, Narine Singh, Director, Health Services; Mr. Nankishore Persaud, Administrative Assistant; Guyana/Cuba Cooperative Health Matters; Mr. Terrence O’Brien; electrical engineer, Ministry of Public Works; Mr. Farouk Khan, Member of Parliament (MP) and Region Two Chairman, Mr. Alli Baksh.
Afterwards, Ramsaran and the others inspected the Diagnostic Centre and the operating theatres.
Noting some technical problems at the Diagnostic Centre which are affecting the theatres, Minister Ramsaran undertook that, within six weeks, all affecting the institution will be addressed.
However, he said the Regional Administration is not to be blamed for the current technical difficulties at the Diagnostic Centre because, during the construction, a consultant was there to overlook the work.
Ally said he got a better sense of the problems and remedial works will start immediately to correct all.
The Centre is staffed by Cuban doctors and technicians who work along with Guyanese counterparts.