Dear Editor,
I am of the opinion that hospitals in Guyana can be chambers of doom and death. I therefore understand why Guyanese who can afford through private or public funding would want to seek better healthcare overseas. Running, or more so, flying to overseas destinations for medical care has become an undisputed “medical culture” in Guyana. However, and while this move might be a lifesaving safety valve, there is little evidence that the aforesaid culture would change anytime soon. I am convinced of this view because those who have controlled the levers of power have an embedded thought that if their defunct healthcare system does not meet their expectations, there is always the opportunity to seek care in greener pastures. To be clear, I am not taking a jab at President Granger’s current medical circumstances. He is the latest in a long list of politicians seeking medical attention abroad. I argue vigorously that if the colonialists were to come back to Guyana they would recognize Guyana’s healthcare system in a jiffy. Little has changed.
The need for the upper crust of Guyana’s society to seek medical care abroad has now become an unavoidable concern, especially since the country has been in the planning stages on how to spend the soon to be reaped oil revenues. We do not need a brain surgeon to inform those in the inner sanctum of the policy-making that an up to par medical system is needed as much as the defence of two-thirds of Guyana from its neighbours. The point is basic: Guyana needs a healthcare system that will be comparable and competitive with the developing world. No excuses. The minds are there, and yes, the money will be there to accomplish this goal.
What is staggering to conceive is that three Presidents of Guyana (Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, and Desmond Hoyte) died of heart attacks when they could have been saved if Guyana had a reliable healthcare system. Unfortunately, the message has not been delivered or has been delivered but pushed to the back burner. Furthermore, if we were to factor in the costs of seeking medical care overseas to the public, it would be difficult to dismiss the thought that such costs if redirected would have at least built the foundation of a hospital. I understand the circumstances surrounding the specialty hospital. But dreams should not die with political partisan blows.
What appears to be a growing problem is that a number of politicians are over the normal retirement age of 65 and are still “actively” working. This is admirable but many have encountered health problems because of the natural process of aging and the burden of rigorous work. The latter will continue but ironically that shortcoming dovetails well for the need for a decent healthcare system that all Guyanese can be proud of. In closing, I am confident that when ordinary citizens begin seeing their politicians seeking medical care from public health institutions they will realize that a serious message has been signaled. That is, providing decent medical care to the public has finally become a national priority.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine
