STABROEK NEWS, SEPTEMBER 25 --- In addition to the Cottage Hospital situated at Belle Plaine in Wakenaam, there are three health centres on the island: one at Zeelandia, one at Maria’s Pleasure and one at Noitgedacht where monthly clinics are held for those suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.
Over the past three months no clinics have been held because of a shortage of drugs at the Cottage Hospital which is the control point for the health centres.
Owing to the non-functioning of the health centres the poor, vulnerable, and pensioners have to find the money to hire of taxi to take them to the hospital for treatment, where on many occasions they are told that there are no drugs and are given prescriptions to go and purchase same from a private pharmacy.
Patients who have to get dressings for injuries have to purchase their own dressings and bandages, as well as gloves for the nurses who have to do the dressings, and no one seems to care.
I hope that the Minister of Health and other relevant persons in authority will see to it that this problem is addressed as the year is coming to a close, and while more billions will be allocated in the budget for the health sector, the poor patient will still have to suffer.
Yours faithfully,
A Singh
