The Shameful Truth about Guyana Public Hospitals
July 9, 2008
To those of you who are not living in Guyana please do not believe all that you read in the Newspapers. I am living in Berbice and it’s a different experience living here from what the media and politicians portray.
It is a notorious fact that doctors in Guyana pilfer medications from the Public Hospitals and sell it to patients for thousands of dollars in profits at their own private clinics. When a patient is critical and admitted to the hospital there are no medications. The same doctor will refer you to his private clinic where he administered the hospital’s drug and charge a large sum; those who cannot afford it are left to die in public institutions. This misuse by health personnel and their privileged access to pharmaceuticals has become a very sensitive issue in Guyana.
Technology and profit driven private health care has become dominant in the last decade and has been reflected in the falling standards of health care and the government- run hospitals. Doctors are using false patient details to help themselves to thousands of tablets for their private clinics and financial gains; requesting under-the-counter payments, overcharging and stealing. Anyone going to the market or town knows the doctor I named pilfer medications and where you can go to buy it.
Stabroek News 7/4/2008 issue stated that the Ministry of Health received US 4.4 million public health laboratory which it expects will become a national and regional center of excellence for lab standards and research. Named the National Public Health Institute and created with major funding from the PEPFAR [US President’s Emergency Plan For Aids Relief] project and inputs from the World Bank and Clinton Foundation. The lab is housed in the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital and being managed by Drs Colin Roach and Jagernauth Ragnauth.
Dr Jagernauth Ragnauth , Dr. Balram, Dr. L. Seepersaud, Dr. Carl Niamatially, Dr. Gobin and Dr. Sangster- they all pilfer medications and sell it to patients at their Private Clinics. When you go to the hospital they recommend that you go seek their medical attention immediately and would even ask if you have enough money to pay their fees. Even their receptionist/nurses would tell you that incase you need to get anything done such as medical for visa/work permit, employee faking a medical leave of absence or any kind of blood, urine or VDRL they can have it done immediately depends how much you are willing to pay. They sometimes offer you, other patients blood report to use. This is the system we have in Guyana. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy is the biggest crook of them all. He is the one that should have been banned from practicing medicine.
On August 17th 2001 there was a peaceful protest in Corriverton [Berbice/Guyana] regarding two innocent teenage boys who was killed by BASS [ P.P.P Civic- Members of the Police]. While the protest was taking place on the road with thousand of on-lookers President Jagdeo give orders to open fire and eleven innocent persons lose their lives that afternoon. The next day the president flew the BASS members out of the country and Dr. Leslie Ramsammy did the Post Mortem. For the eleven victims who were shot and killed like an animal, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy did a great job covering up for President Jagdeo. Until today no bullets can be found on the eleven victims even though some families send the corpse to Trinidad for a second opinion on the Post Mortem results done by Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. Unfortunately these are the people we have to rule the nation. All the millions they claimed to be spending- half of it used and the other half is in their pockets. It’s the main reason why they can afford to have the best medical care in the US. If Guyana is so good then let them all get it done right here like the rest of us.
With all the millions being funded to Guyana there should have been the best and free health care system by now. We all heard lies from the government that the country/ health care system is doing better instead its all for their financial gains, votes and reputations; if you want to see the real deal about Guyana health care system then you have to stop listening what the government/ health care personnel says and go experience it for yourselves.
Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation, New Amsterdam Public Hospital and Skeldon Hospital are in a deplorable condition. These are the problems poor people have to face every day at public institutions with no hope for survival.
- There is a shortage of doctors due to low wages/brain drain.
- No qualified pathologists.
- Out patient clinic are always out of drugs because health-care personnel pilfer it for their own financial gain.
- Regardless of your emergency the best and only treatment these hospitals have available is saline, aspirin and antibiotics.
- Hospital toilets are filthy, faces on the floor and wall, no tissue or hand soap.
- Some wards smell of urine and vomit all the time.
- Un-sheeted bed and dirty clothing.
- New Amsterdam Hospital & Skeldon Hospital have Cuban trainee on scholarship taking places for doctors/administrators; most of them do not speak/understand English language.
- Students sent to Cuba hardly honor the terms of their scholarship and come back to serve their country.
- No proper meal.
- No cleaners present.
- Not enough staff working at night [maximum 2 nurses], some nurses are rude/harsh to patients.
- Doctors prescribing medications and do not give the patient proper information what is their illness or the medications about and if there would be side effects.
- Complaints being made and undergoing investigations about nurses leaving pregnant women bleeding to death.
- Rise in miscarriages.
- No incubator at Skeldon hospital and they do not have an ambulance, always depending on the Guyana Sugar Estate Cooperation to use theirs. When there is an emergency you have to hire a taxi or those who cannot afford it have to suffer/die.
- Most staff members do not wash their hands; nurses just go from one patient to another, holding doorknobs, shaking hands, making coffee and touching everything.
These are some of the things happening in Guyana. Innocent people lose their lives without a reason and the government turns a blind eye. When would justice prevail? When can we be heard? Even justice is being bought and sold. These are the circumstances we have to live in.
Aliyah Mohamad
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12 Responses to “The Shameful Truth about Guyana Public Hospitals”
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I am in tears as I read this. The times I returned to Guyana, I gave everything away to those less fortunate than me. I picture myself there an feel for those that are in this horrible situation. We need to come together and find an answer like the other minorities that came to the US and started nonprofit groups to help those in their native land.
Thank god Alesie rice exporters built a huge tank to store paddy in Corriverton[ Bank Road, Square of the Revolution].The president gave orders to open fire on what was a peaceful protest, while some was killed like animals,others rushed behind the huge tank for cover.Until this day you can count hundreds of bullet holes on the tank.
A pregnant woman was walking on the sea wall and was shot.After 30 mins they rushed her to Skeldon hospital and all the doctors had to give her was sailine and she crying out in pain.Guyana Sugar Estate Cooperation Ambulance came two hours after to assist, the driver was helpless seeing the woman condition and lose control of the ambulance.The driver, nurse, pregnant woman and unborn child died on the spot.The Unborn baby boy was scattered on the road and the three bodies lay next to grass corner.
This incident took place few miles away from Corriverton.
Kris
Those who are not living in Guyana fail to realize what’s going on.Don’t ever believe all that you read.For those who think that Guyana future is bright, then perhaps they should visit some of the public hospitals, offices, clinics and see for themselves what’s happening.You would never ever want to go back to Guyana when you see the state of GPHC and they way pateints are being left on their beds/floor to suffer and die.It is very saddening. All i could think of what if that was me or my family member, what would i do? Some people are so poor that they can barely afford to pay transportation.Tourists enjoy their vacation and think all is well but they do not know of the government cover-ups and the struggles poor people have to endure.Why would they spend 4.4 million US for a lab when they dont even have qualified doctors, or the few they have steal for their own benefits?
Tell me more about Georgetown Hospital…
I totally believe that. I returned to Guyana this past summer along with a few of my family. Most of the kids that went with us were American born so they werent accustomed to the conditions there. Everyone including myself got sick from the water, heat and most of all the mosquitoes. We went to the hospital to receive medication for mosquitoe bites and I had to take out stitches from a cut. They made me pay to see the doctor just so he can write “Ok to remove” on a piece of paper so that I could have a nurse remove the stitches. Then they had me wait again to see the same doctor and wanted me to pay more just so that he can give me a prescription for the mosquitoe bites. As someone on vacation I didnt mind having to pay the bills since it wasnt as much as I would pay in the US, but to think that all those poor people waiting in line have to pay all of that money is crazy. Those people work for about $15 US per day. By the time they go to the store to buy rice and flour the money they worked for is finished.
The laws they have set up for minor issues that the police and government officials spend their time enforcing is ridiculous. Why worry about a person wearing a shirt that has sleeves to enter an office building when there are thousands of people that need help and support? I went to the INS building and was wearing a strap dress and was not allowed in. I had to walk around the town looking for a top to buy just to enter. Does this really affect the way the office is operated? Why not pay more attention to other issues?
Seriously what is happening there? I feel like its just going downhill
Guyana is already down the hill. Climbing up the hill now poses a greater challenge. But if we all work together we can make changes that are positive. Forget the failing government. Pretend they do not exist because in reality they are doing more harm than good.
Devi i’m suprised that your family is working 15 USD per day. Few would have that for a day. My cousin is a Teacher [ Teaching Qualified Mistress] at a reputable secondary school with a salary of 140 USD a month, half of which for travelling expenses. If they have to pay to see a doctor,that means they have no money left to use for themselves for the rest of the week or the month. How can one afford to buy their daily supplies?
140 USD month is just enough to last for one week if that. With her qualifications one of the islands would be perfect but if she has a family, that might pose a problem.
Andrew,
With the same mouth you say “But if we all work together we can make changes that are positive” and then contradict yourself with the following statement “140 USD month is just enough to last for one week if that. With her qualifications one of the islands would be perfect”
How can you support progress in the country when at the same time you are encouraging teachers to leave the country and seek employment else where.
Hey Brian,
I totally agree with Andrew. Presently, people can hardly afford to buy food, some are even stealing food from others to survive. The only hope is to leave to country and find a job that pays. When you are going through your struggles, no one knows the hardship you have to endure, so why care? My advise is to get out as fast as you can, get a job and make a life of your own- cause you never know what tomorrow might bring forth.
There is CSME in the Caribbean, but only few can reach the requirements. It’s just a nice way for the government to say that thers’s opportunity out there for us and and anyone can work in the Caribbean without a permit. The truth is we have no hope/ future in Guyana and we can’t leave ’cause we can’t even afford to buy the airfare. It would took us months or years to save in order to pay for a permit or airfare, while doing that means you have to starve. We can barely afford to buy food much less anything else.
Well i love the saying that goes “wiser the government, smarter the population”. who ever get the chance to leave- please do so quickly as possible. A better life is out there waiting for you.
There are options for everyone. If that individual has a family, then immediately securing the future of that family is quite important. If the individual is single there goes the option i noted. Why? He/she might be better able to help Guyana from the outside rather than from within. Many of us leave and return to do things we would not have otherwise been able to do if we remained there. So there are options for everyone and situations are all different. If an individual is suffering and the opportunity arises to leave, then so be it. If they can manage and do some good in Guyana, then stay.
I agree with both opinions. You can stay and try to make things better…but if you have the opportunity to leave and do much better why not take it? I came here when I was very young because my parents were trying their best to make a good life for us but there was just so much they could do. Yes they were able to put clothes on our backs and food on the table but what about opportunities for their kids? If we had stayed in Guyana, I would have went to college etc but at the same time I think I would have already been married with about 3kids just as the old school mates. When I went back all my friends I went to school with were already married with about 3-4 kids. There weren’t much opportunity for them there. Most finish HS and cannot afford college so they either become stay at home moms and day laborers.
If more jobs were to open up then people will not want to leave the second they hear of jobs overseas. No one wants to leave their beloved home country and all their family and friends behind. But if you want a better life for you and your children then you have to do what is good for you.
And yes many people do return to their country and try to help out the situation. But more needs to be done within.