No doctors... but nurses needed in TT

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO does not need more doctors to remedy its ailing health sector, it needs more nurses. This was the declaration yesterday from former Junior Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan. Khan told Newsday the country really needs more nurses who are qualified in certain areas of medicine and Government should bring legislation to amend the Nursing Council Act and allow the Council to bring in nurses from other countries, including Cuba, to fill the necessary gaps in the health sector.

However Khan claimed that Government would not touch the Council because it was viewed as a “PNM body”. He reiterated that Government’s plans to bring in Cuban and UNDP doctors amounted to nothing more than Health Minister Colm Imbert’s “vindictiveness” against local doctors. The Opposition UNC had vehemently opposed amendments to the Medical Board Act during the last parliamentary session, claiming that the panel established under the amended Act would allow “a free for all” in the issuing of medical licences to doctors. On Friday, Imbert said “there is no possibility” of such a situation arising because the procedure for doctors’ registration was clearly defined under the Act and the panel has not issued any licences.

On the issue of tissue transplant legislation, Khan recalled that the UNC passed the Human Tissue Transplant Act 2000 and only parliamentary approval was required to effect the necessary regulations. Khan said while that process would be “straightforward”, he was not optimistic of headway being made in this area when Parliament resumes next month. Asked what he expected from the Minister, Khan replied: “More fight and more war for doctors.” Speaking in Parliament on July 4, Imbert said: “With regard to the legislation relating to the Tissue Transplant Bill, recently I saw the final version of the legislation. I assure the honourable Members of this House that we will soon be bringing the legislation relating to tissue transplants so that we could proceed with the very laudable concept of harvesting organs from persons who may have passed away, thus allowing other persons to have a fair chance at a healthy and productive life.”