Lindeners stress difficulties in accessing health care, medical drugs

Lindeners have expressed concern over a number of healthcare issues affecting them. Those range from little or no access to pertinent pharmaceutical drugs to inaccessibility to specialised healthcare in the community, to lack of an elderly-care facility.

These concerns were raised by residents of the Constabulary Compound and Industrial Area in the presence of Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, during a recent ministerial outreach to Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Residents are particularly concerned that, despite declarations that the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) is well-equipped, their loved ones are often referred to Georgetown to access specialised care. As one resident pointed out, people travel from as far as Kwakwani, Mahdia, Ituni and other interior locations to seek health care in Linden, but they, too, are forwarded to the Georgetown hospital (GPHC).

“As of recent – and I can personally relate to this – I (began to) think the Linden Hospital Complex is becoming a referral hospital,” the resident stressed, as he went on to share an experience in which his son had been admitted to the health institution but had to be transferred to the Georgetown Hospital.

“It was at great expense to me…We have the space, we have the facilities, why is it that we can’t be able to handle drugs?” As a result, the hospital’s ambulance would usually make several trips to Georgetown,” the resident explained.

Responding, the minister acknowledged that the resident had made a very good point. She promised to engage the Director of Regional Health Services in this regard, and highlighted the need for more specialists to be placed at regional hospitals. She also acknowledged that “some of the best” are at the Georgetown Hospital.

“…because what we’re trying to do is put specialist doctors at the various regional hospitals… It’s a work in progress. We need more specialists, so what we’re doing (is) training some doctors in the residency programmes. So after they’ve finished training, they’ll come back and work full-time,” she posited.

Pensioner Richard Hooper also pointed out that he has difficulty with receiving eye medications at the Linden Hospital. “When you go to the hospital, you don’t get the medication that the doctor recommended. 95 percent of the time you got to go on the road and buy the medicine; and I am a pensioner, I can’t afford it. I have problems with my eyes and I have to buy eye drops…they don’t have it at the hospital,” he lamented.

The minister pointed to the need for the community television station to be up and running, so that patients can be educated on when drugs are available.

“When drugs come, we want you to go and get the drugs. So we can tell you when it leave MMU (Materials Management Unit) to come here, so you can trace it, and hold these people accountable,” she explained.

Another resident also pointed to her struggle with accessing her prescription drug, Daflon. Showing her swollen feet, she noted that she depends on the drug and is required to take it twice daily.

“When it (drug) come to the hospital, you don’t get it, but (if you should) go to another pharmacy, you would find that same drug (there). When that come, you don’t hear, much less see, it. I can’t afford to buy one for one hundred dollars,” she stressed.

Although she said this appears to be the case countrywide, the minister promised to look into the situation of drugs being available at the hospitals.

Other residents complained that when they go to the hospital, they’re told that drugs are unavailable. However, upon returning when drugs are available, they are given drugs which are close to being expired.

The minister said it is her hope that pharmacists know how to perform their job well, since quality care is priority. She also said there is need to monitor and support the supervision of pharmacy assistants.

“What you find happening is that we just train them and put them there, and nobody is there to supervise them…you must give them support and supervision, so that they can learn as well on the job,” she asserted.

Resident Shirley Fordyce said the need for a place to house the elderly in the community is a burning issue for her. “Those persons from Linden that don’t have relatives, and we have to take them to the Palms, I’m actually begging if we can get a part of the old hospital or any other place…I’m going twice a week to see a lady in the Palms. I don’t work, I’m a widow and an accident victim and I does got to go,” she lamented as she suggested that a part of the former LHC building be utilised as a home for the elderly. (Utamu Belle)