Rambachan tells Deyalsingh to get his act together or resign

In a media release yesterday, Rambachan expressed shock with the hospital’s reported explanation that a lack of foreign exchange was the reason behind the failure to fix the equipment.

“This is the height of mismanagement at all levels of the health system and an indictment on the hapless minister whose idle boasts are now being unmasked,” Rambachan said, adding, “Unless heads roll, the laissez faire attitudes which pervades the public heath care system will continue to the detriment of the public.” He said government had re-introduced the “worst form of management of public institutions which have the responsibility to care for the people.

“There appears to be no urgency on the part of this government to rectify and or fix the several problems that plague, not only health, but national security and crime. The collapse of public institutions is all around us.” He was also critical of the “unresponsive attitude of government” to crises saying they try to “make a virtual joke of the opposition when these issues are brought to parliament for debate.

“Sadly lives are under threat and are even being lost because their form of politics trumps the welfare of citizens.” He said Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh “has the blood of the suffering, the sick and those who have lost their lives on his hands.

“It is time for him to stop his idle boasts and get down to doing his work. Alternatively, he should be replaced by a competent and caring minister.” The Ministry of Health, in a news release yesterday, said it wishes to advise the public that steps are being taken to address the long wait times for CT scans by patients of the hospital.

“These wait times are due to ongoing technical problems with the CT scanner equipment at the hospital,” the ministry said.

“While these issues were inherited, the current management team of the (South West Regional Health) Authority is actively pursuing a permanent resolution to this longstanding situation.” The ministry said because of the complex nature of the matter, a solution will take additional time.

“In the interim, a short term solution including addressing the issue of the availability of foreign exchange, is being implemented and the SWRHA continues to prioritise patients based on the urgency of each case.” The ministry said there are two CT scanners at the hospital – a 64-slice scanner and a 16-slice scanner.

The 16-slice scanner is functional and all emergency CT scanning needs of patients continue to be met.

“The technical problems that have been plaguing the 64-slice CT scanner date back to 2010. The scanner was warehoused for almost two years in less than ideal conditions after it was first received in May 2010.

In 2012, during the installation phase, the warranty of this scanner was voided due to excessive condensation which further contributed to the challenges associated with the maintenance of this equipment.”