Doctors have become mercenaries

THE MAJORITY of Trinidad and Tobago’s doctors have become “enthusiastic mercenaries,” whose main priority is the exploitation of their patients, rather than providing them with quality health care. This was the declaration from Independent Senator, Prof Ramesh Deosaran, during debate on the Regional Health Authority Amendment Order 2004 in Parliament yesterday. Deosaran expressed reservations about the efficiency of either an expanded or contracted bureaucracy in the health sector.  He diagnosed the core problem to be one of a lack of professionalism within the system, particularly by many local doctors.

“It is with very great regret and the country knows this, that too many of our doctors have become enthusiastic mercenaries in this country and if we build institutions on the premise that such professionals will give due service, I think we are in for a rude shock as we have been having in recent years. Too many doctors behave first of all as if they are just businessmen and businesswomen and health service comes afterwards. I am not telling you that from hearsay,” he declared. Deosaran said he had nothing against doctors making their “due share” but all industrial action taken by the doctors were aimed at embarrassing the government of the day and not advancing their legitimate concerns.

“The destitute, sick, lame and the poor have been made to suffer at the hands of some of these mercenary professionals the unfairness and the uncaring attitude they perpetually inflict upon people who need their services. That is what the hippocratic oath said. That is what they promised when they were licensed or when they graduated and it is a commitment that they should maintain with much more vigour in their service. “This is not a roti shop or a soft drink parlour you are managing. This is the health of the community!” Deosaran declared. He encouraged “those conscientious lawyers to take up more malpractice suits if only as a prohibitive element so that they (doctors) will take greater care.”

Deosaran lamented that neither the PNM nor the UNC could encourage these doctors to exhibit the levels of professionalism for which their predecessors were known. He also expressed regret that successive  governments have not allowed the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex to fulfil the role which it was intended to perform when it was built in the 1980s. Deosaran praised local nurses for performing yeoman service within the health sector. He noted that on many occasions, they have performed the dual roles of doctor and nurse and suggested to Health Minister John Rahael that their training be more multi-faceted.  Deosaran recalled his own experiences following a recent surgical procedure at a private medical clinic  and extended best wishes to Government Ministers Dr Lenny Saith and Christine Kangaloo upon their return to the Senate.