A doctor at the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) yesterday said patients were being turned away without being properly assessed because over 28 reagents for testing for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems were not available. A reagent is a substance used to produce a chemical reaction so as to detect, measure, or produce other substances.
Medically it is used to detect illnesses in patients. A senior doctor at the San Fernando General Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was concerned at the level of care given to patients. “We are being asked to use our discretion. For some patients, doctors are referring them to get the blood tests done privately, while others are not being treated at all,” the doctor said.
The shortage of reagents, ECG paper and X-ray films has been linked to an ongoing situation where hospital suppliers have threatened to withhold goods until they are paid. People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for San Fernando West Faris Al-Rawi alleged in a press conference on Tuesday that suppliers have cut off their lines of credit to the SWRHA.
Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan, speaking to the Guardian prior to the sod-turning ceremony for the new Dialysis Centre at Mt Hope yesterday, maintained that suppliers were still providing goods. Asked to respond to the concerns of doctors regarding the lack of supplies, Khan said any doctors who made such remarks were opening up themselves to problems.
“If they say they cannot assess patients properly, how can they treat patients? They are opening up themselves and opening us up to problems.” Khan, who maintained that patients were not being adversely affected, said there were some investigations that were being done.
“We indicated that if they can’t get the investigations in the RHA then they can get it done privately,” Khan said.
“Sometimes there is a decline in supply.” He said that suppliers were still saying that they wanted all their money now.
Asked when suppliers would get their money, Khan said he spoke to the manager of finance and was told that $96 million was already paid to suppliers and more would be paid soon.