Roach: I am ‘totally uneasy’

Roach said the statements which were ventilated at the hearing would make all citizens feel uncomfortable about the quality of health care in the country.

He told members of the Medical Board and the Health Ministry that citizens should be comforted that when they seek treatment at any health facility in TT they should, “go in and come out alive.” Roach told them the JSC would be calling them back for further discussions at a later time.

During the hearing, Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus told both groups of officials, “The bottom line is ladies and gentlemen...

you all keep passing the buck.” Recalling her experience as a former Public Services Association (PSA) president, Baptiste-Primus opined that no recommendations are made to change the status quo, “because the bottom line is it is impacting the dollar line.” She declared, “We are all aware that private practice has impacted to a very large extent on the delivery of proper health care.” Baptiste- Primus said while she has often boasted TT has the best doctors in its public health system, the burning question is, “are we getting value for money.” In this regard, the minister told Medical Board representatives, “ You have a grave responsibility to sit and engage in that kind of dispassionate dialogue and identify what it takes to get us out from where we are.” Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial suggested the Medical Board,”look at a proper remuneration package for these doctors working in the public health system.” Referring to earlier comments by Medical Board president Professor Terence Seemungal, Ramdial asked why were foreign doctors still being brought into TT to fill vacancies, if there was already an ample supply of local doctors in the system.

Roach observed that in Israel, the public health system is far superior to the private health system, treating everyone from the prime minister to the ordinary citizen. Noting the outcry in TT for medical specialists in a number of areas, Roach said he knew that many locals who acquire critical skills in medicine are unable to return home and practice their speciality. “There seems to be a blockage, there seems to be a problem,” he said. Roach asked if there was some sort of cabal, monopoly or closed door mentality preventing these persons from coming back.

He wondered if a lack of policies or a lack of will was the reason why many problems persist in the health sector today.

Seemungal said he was aware of many of the same complaints.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Akenath Misir said, “Misir- We are aware of that. We are trying to tighten the arrangement.”