Imbert: UNC starved public health system

Health Minister Colm Imbert yesterday accused the opposition United National Congress of neglecting the public health system in a deliberate attempt “to run the system into the ground” by starving facilities of funds for equipment and renovations.

He also alleged that the UNC “planted” their supporters in the system. Imbert said the “vast majority” of them are untrained, unqualified, incompetent, unsympathetic to the needs of the population and guilty of gross negligence. Delivering his contribution to the 2004 Budget debate in the Red House, Imbert claimed that during the UNC’s tenure 1996-2002 there was an “explosion” of private hospitals. He said this happened while San Fernando and Port-of-Spain hospitals were deliberately neglected. “It was a surreptitious, underhanded effort on the part of honourable members opposite to downgrade the two main hospitals and force people to go to private hospitals.” He said persons unsuccessful in elections were given posts in the North West Regional Health Authority. He cited a farmer who was put in charge of building and equipment maintenance and another hired as a secretary who did not even have one CXC pass.

Imbert made no apologies for his criticism of the RHA management and said the PNM will not accept blame for the incompetence of UNC activists and “unqualified subversives” planted in the system. Imbert referred to sick-out action taken by doctors earlier this year, saying there were doctors who were sending in sick-leave and then going to private facilities to do surgeries. They would send the bill to Government. Imbert said this practice will not be tolerated. Blaming the UNC for existing conditions at facilities, Imbert said the neo-natal unit of the maternity unit at PoSGH is “disgraceful.” He said the psychiatric ward, Central Sterilising and Supplies Department (CSSD) and Paediatric ward at the Maternity Unit at PoSGH was closed and no complimentary service was put in place. People from north-west had to take their children for treatment at Mt Hope “by which time the complications could get worse.” Imbert said due to the closure of the CSSD two years ago surgical instruments from PoSGH are sent to Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. He said if a vehicle broke down or problem developed at Mt Hope then surgeries cannot be done.

Imbert also criticised the UNC’s inaction at SFGH although many of its constituents had to seek medical attention there. “How else would you explain an entire wing vacant and unoccupied for six years and people sleeping in corridors and stairs while there is a requirement for ward space in SFGH.” Imbert said Government is spending $33 million to equip and upgrade wards to create more bed space at SFGH. He said work on phase one started when the PNM took office. He said phase two and three will start next year. Imbert said $45 million will be spent on Phase II—construction of new laboratory, pharmacy, new day surgery unit, intensive care and burns unit. He said the acquisition of new surgical instruments for the hospital should be completed next month. Imbert said $22 million is being spent to equip 26 health facilities by the end of this year and $3 million has been spent to computerise the Regional Health Authorities. Imbert said the UNC ran the St James Radiotherapy into the ground, and Government has allocated $2 million from the newly created Hospital Maintenance Fund to conduct urgent repairs.

Imbert said in its six years in office, the UNC could not start the Tobago Hospital, complete the Princes Town District Hospital or begin renovations on the San Fernando General Hospital. Contrasting this with the PNM’s “substantial achievements,” he highlighted the list of health facilities which were completed among them Erin, Icacos and Marabella Health Centres. For the new year works are expected to be completed on several facilities. Including Marabella, Gasparillo, La Brea, Williamsville and Gran Couva Health Centres. Imbert did not have an easy time in the House as Opposition MPs challenged his facts and heckled him. This prompted Speaker Barry Sinanan to intervene when the cross-talk became too “constant.”