New Medical Board coming

Narace also disclosed he has mandated all Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) to have closed circuit television cameras (CCTVCs) installed and operational by December 31, to ensure safety of patients and staff. The minister said the RHAs have also been mandated to implement additional “patient safety measures” to ensure there is no repeat of the baby Jeremiah incident which happened last month.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet news conference, Narace said the names of all persons recommended to be members of the new Medical Board were submitted to Cabinet yesterday.

They are Dr Victor Wheeler and Dr Victor Coombs (Ministry of Health); Inter-Religious Organisation president Pundit Mukran Sirjoo; Association of Chartered Accountants representative Garvin Lau; Law Association representative Dr Camini Narinesingh Chan; UWI Professor Zulykia Ali and doctors’ Steve Smith, Peter Baggan, Neil Singh and outgoing MPATT president Dr Rajendra Persad. Narace explained that the process to recommend these persons lasted from November 8 to 25, and he was hopeful they would receive their instruments of appointment next Friday.

Narace said claims from Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh that he (Narace) was trying to influence appointments to the Medical Board and his disapproving of Smith, were “of no consequence.” The minister said he had a “cordial” relationship with Smith who was one of the first persons he met with shortly after his appointment on November 8. The minister added that this board will also deal with matters concerning all foreign doctors operating in the country and no parallel board will be created to deal with these persons. Narace also dismissed Gopeesingh’s allegations of a “health cartel” in the country. Meanwhile, the Medical Professionals Association (MPATT) yesterday blamed former Health Minister John Rahael for the current situation in which the licensing of doctors was delayed because the new Council was not yet convened.

MPATT secretary Dr Shehenaz Mohammed claimed Rahael knew a general election would take place and there could be a change of administration.

“He should have put an interim Board in place knowing the new Council would have a teething period,” Dr Mohammed said. Mohammed said she was aware that Narace met with the four doctors elected by doctors to serve on the new Medical Council. The doctors advised of the urgency of the Council being convened. Mohammed said the minister’s technical advisors were liable for not advising him of this.

She said MPATT believed Narace was working ardently to rectify the situation. Mohammed said medical students graduating this month will need a provisional licence to start their internship and any foreign doctors awaiting jobs will also need to get temporary licences.