Doctors should rebel against politicisation of COVID-19 tests

Dear Editor,
I am quite troubled by the news that “When COVID-19 tests are conducted, doctors and nurses would be forced to wait for sometimes days before they are given the results. This delay is due to the fact that the test results move straight from the lab to former Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, and her “relevant heads.”
To start with, we seem to have a square peg in round hole Minister of Health (who might not have the status of a “Minister” now that we are in political gridlock) who is not a medical doctor or someone with medical experience. This lady, Chairman of the PNC, was catapulted to the position after the previous Minister who was a real doctor was involved in a drug bond scandal and was removed.
The blogger, “Bibi Haniffa,” wrote, “A non-medical personnel demands that all COVID-19 test results go to her. And the doctors don’t know if their patients test positive or not. What a country!” And another, “Sheik101,” wrote, “This lady is at the front of everything. From the NCV (Charrandas gon dead tonite) all the way down to the present. Rabble rouser, instigator whatever but her actions speaks for her.”
This is also the lady who said, “The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” Lawrence is quoted as saying. “The Minister has not denied making the statements publicly …” the media quoted her as saying on December 4, 2018.
At this time of national instability and political gridlock when Ms Volda’s party is trying to steal the 2020 elections, now is not the time to also politicise the fight against the coronavirus. It seems plainly wrong, and I ask the Guyana Medical Council and Doctors’ Association to rebel against this practice. Go on a walkout if you have to so as to press home your message. Let the professionals be professionals. This practice is simply unacceptable especially when the IMF said Guyana is among the countries that are least prepared, and the Government is clueless in dealing with the virus.
What are the compelling operational, medical, health, or public policy reasons why a lame-duck Minister must have the lab results first ahead of the medical professionals? This makes no sense at all. What would happen if a top PPP leader or leader from another party has been tested? Would the results be languishing somewhere before interventions are made, or can there be tricks with the results? How about private hospitals not having access to ventilators and materials available to the Government services?
I call on Ms Volda to stop this silly practice of lab results going to her first, and call on the medical community to stand up for your professional rights and practices.

Sincerely,
Dr Jerry Jailall