The Ministry of Health has launched a complaints hotline where persons who did not receive satisfactory service or were told prescribed drugs were not available at health centres or hospital pharmacies can now call, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony has announced.
The number is 227-4357 and for now it will be manned from 8 am to 4 pm [Mondays to Fridays]. Anthony told Stabroek News last week that “Later we may do 24 hours.”
This newspaper understands that getting public feedback on the quality of health services provided by the state is an initiative of President Irfaan Ali, who wants data not only on what is being done but what improvements are needed in the health sector. If citizens are able to access medicines prescribed and there are ample supplies throughout the country is another area of evaluation that the hotline services will be able to provide. The Health Ministry has been plagued for years with inventory management problems and successive governments have routinely promised improvements but to no avail.