‘Report them’ — Health Ministry warns against directing patients to private facilities

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony says no individual should be turned away from public hospitals or health centres, and he is encouraging people to report anyone who refers patients to private practitioners.

“We have invested a lot of money into our public system, and there is no reason why people can’t get care in the public system,” Dr. Anthony said while responding to concerns raised by Opposition Parliamentarian Tabitha Sarabo- Halley during Friday’s consideration of the estimates for the health sector.

Sarabo-Halley said she received complaints that citizens seeking care at health facilities have been told to visit private facilities instead. Earlier, the Health Minister heard concerns from another Opposition Parliamentarian, Ganesh Mahipaul, that some doctors are only present at hospitals for short periods and then they moonlight at private facilities afterwards. Together, the opposition parliamentarians said citizens seeking care in the public sector suffer because of these occurrences.

In response, Dr Anthony said such instances must be reported.

If this happens at the Georgetown Public Hospital, he said, individuals can make reports at the facility’s help desk. He also urged dissatisfied patients to go to the Chief Executive Officer’s office so the shortcomings can be properly documented and dealt with.

The Health Minister also said the new electronic health records system will help ensure there is more accountability in the system by tracking the work health workers do.

Outside of this hospital, at other facilities, Dr. Anthony urged citizens to use the ministry’s hotline to report issues. The General Health Hotline (Complaints & Feedback) is 227-4357.

“We have also put up at all of our health facilities a poster with a number. If you go there and the place is supposed to open at 8AM and the place is closed, call the number so that we’ll know and we’ll be able to take action,” the Health Minister said.