Dear Editor,
The Jamaica Observer story, 'Answer, please!' about a family desperately wanting to know the circumstances behind their loved one's death was heart-rending to read.
That a severely ill person, requiring urgent emergency care, could have to wait 14 hours at a public hospital before getting any attention is outrageous and unacceptable. This speak volumes about the decay in essential services and lack of adequate public health care in this country.
We note that the Minister of Health Dr Ferguson has already called for an immediate review of the Spanish Town Hospital, but another review or useless report is not good enough if they can't or won't act on what is wrong.
Jamaica may not have all the resources to attend to every problem, but if authorities showed some concern the people of Jamaica would be a little more understanding. And we wonder why the recent poll is unflattering to PM Simpson Miller and her Administration, where most Jamaicans feel the country is headed down the wrong path under her inept leadership.
It is not only the availability of resources that matters in these instances, but finding efficiencies in processes and human resources, cutting unnecessary red tape and being more practical and humane given the situation.
Every Government will have a lot on its plate, but I've always said a government that cannot take care of the most vulnerable, the poor, the sick, the elderly, and the youth, is heartless, and incompetent and downright useless.
Fresh on the heels of the mishandling of the chik-V virus outbreak it does appear the public health sector and its administration will require an overhaul, top to bottom. We hear of other hospitals with non-functioning elevators and lack of equipment and much-needed supplies. This in addition to severe shortage of staff. The minister of health has shown he is completely out of touch, and unable to manage or even comprehend the scope and magnitude of these problems. So how then, can we expect him to fix it?
P Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com
Health sector is ailing!
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The Jamaica Observer story, 'Answer, please!' about a family desperately wanting to know the circumstances behind their loved one's death was heart-rending to read.
That a severely ill person, requiring urgent emergency care, could have to wait 14 hours at a public hospital before getting any attention is outrageous and unacceptable. This speak volumes about the decay in essential services and lack of adequate public health care in this country.
We note that the Minister of Health Dr Ferguson has already called for an immediate review of the Spanish Town Hospital, but another review or useless report is not good enough if they can't or won't act on what is wrong.
Jamaica may not have all the resources to attend to every problem, but if authorities showed some concern the people of Jamaica would be a little more understanding. And we wonder why the recent poll is unflattering to PM Simpson Miller and her Administration, where most Jamaicans feel the country is headed down the wrong path under her inept leadership.
It is not only the availability of resources that matters in these instances, but finding efficiencies in processes and human resources, cutting unnecessary red tape and being more practical and humane given the situation.
Every Government will have a lot on its plate, but I've always said a government that cannot take care of the most vulnerable, the poor, the sick, the elderly, and the youth, is heartless, and incompetent and downright useless.
Fresh on the heels of the mishandling of the chik-V virus outbreak it does appear the public health sector and its administration will require an overhaul, top to bottom. We hear of other hospitals with non-functioning elevators and lack of equipment and much-needed supplies. This in addition to severe shortage of staff. The minister of health has shown he is completely out of touch, and unable to manage or even comprehend the scope and magnitude of these problems. So how then, can we expect him to fix it?
P Chin
chin_p@yahoo.com
Health sector is ailing!
-->