CMO hits NWRHA over mental health programmes

THE North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) was yesterday scolded for being tardy in implementing mental health programmes, especially since it is the largest RHA. The public rebuke came from Chief Medical Officer Dr Rampersad Parasram during his address at the fourth International Conference in Psychiatry at the Crowne Plaza, Port-of-Spain. Parasram told NWRHA chairman, Dr Patrick Watson, that they were a “bit tardy” when compared to the South Western RHA and the Tobago RHA. Parasram, however, vowed to do all in his power to insure that the mental health sector would not be left behind while he was CMO. Parasram said attempts were being made to establish the post of Director of Health in TT with several deputies, including that of Mental Health, as well as a Division of Mental Health.

However, he pointed out that there was opposition to the latter. The CMO further noted that it was the right of psychiatrists to lobby for better quality of care at St Ann’s. But he noted that bureaucracy sometimes  “retired” many  plans and policies and  some managers do not support well-intentioned plans. He also called on Watson to remind managers there was the need to “get the work done in the shortest possible time.” Watson, in his greetings, asked that psychiatrists focus more attention on finding preventative measures to mental illnesses so as to ensure mental well-being. Notably absent was outgoing Health Minister Colm Imbert. Organisers merely noted that with the cabinet reshuffle, neither Imbert nor the newly-appointed minister John Rahael was present.