Health Inquiry moves for June hearings

COMPLAINTS about treatment by medical professionals and patient care in the hospitals are among the foremost concerns of those who sent submissions to the Commission of Inquiry into the Operation and Delivery of Public Health Care Services in Trinidad and Tobago. The Commission hopes to begin public hearings by the beginning of June. This information was related by Chairman of the Commission, Gladys Gafoor, at a press conference to update the public on the Commission’s activities yesterday.

The announcement of the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into Public Heath Care Services came in June 2004 in Parliament by Prime Minister Patrick Manning, and the commissioners were sworn in at the end of July with the late former House Speaker, Hector McLean, as Chairman. However, the Commission got off to a shaky start with the resignation of commissioner Dr Dipchan Rattan last year from the Commission. He was subsequently replaced. Commission Chairman Hector McLean then passed away earlier this year, and she was succeeded by Gladys Gafoor, former vice president of the Industrial Court.

In addition, the Chairman reported that before December 2004, the infrastructure for the Commission to operate had not yet been put in place. Despite these setbacks, however, the commission’s Chairman assured that the Commission had been functioning since its inception last year. The Commission has so far been receiving submissions from the public with regard to public health institutions as well as private medical establishments. “We have thrown our doors open to the public,” said Gafoor.

So far they have received just over 100 submissions and have extended the deadline for receipt of such documents until the end of April. She said the Commission’s activities would include visits to various health care facilities, including those in Tobago. The Commission is being assisted by several research officers “who are currently in the field,” in addition to four lawyers who are mandated to advise the Commission on legal matters.
Their first report is due to be submitted to the president within six months. the Commission is scheduled to visit the St Ann’s Hospital today.