‘Procedure of sending the man home was wrong’- Westford

MINISTER of Public Service Dr. Jennifer Westford, who is also acting Minister of Health, has ordered that Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Michael Khan, be back on the job.Michael Khan, who has been at the helm of the operations at the GPHC for some time now, had been ordered to proceed on his accumulated annual leave by recently appointed chairman of the GPHC, Nirmal Rekha, who is also the Finance Secretary of the Ministry of Finance.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday at the Public Buildings, the minister said that there is a procedure in doing things and when it comes to sending Mr. Khan on leave, the procedure was not followed.
She told this newspaper that there is no way that Mr. Khan could be sent on his leave, unless he asks for it.
Last week it was reported that the GPHC Chairman had sent the Chief Executive Officer on leave to facilitate investigations into fraud at the institution.
Michael Khan, since his assumption to the duties of CEO at the country’s main health institution, has been working closely with several overseas based and local organisations to secure additional resources and training for hospital staff.
Khan has also explored several new initiatives in the past to ensure that there was a better relationship between the members of the public and the health providers at the institution.
Only recently, the GPHC, under Khan’s watch, Accident and Emergency Unit has been renovated creating more space and allowing a speedier addressing of the health concerns of those who visit the unit.
Over the years there has also been a better relationship between the media, the Georgetown Public Hospital and the members of the public, with Khan adopting an open door policy in addressing the issues of those who come with complaints and other concerns with respect to the operations of the hospital and the treatment meted out to those who seek medical attention at the facility.