UNC MP: Health system collapsed under PNM

FYZABAD MP Dr Lackram Bodoe has alleged that the health sector has collapsed under the PNM.

Bodoe, a former South West Regional Health Authority chairman, made this claim on Tuesday, after expressing his sadness at the death of parliamentary procedural clerk Sheranne Samuel, 34, who died on Sunday.

In sending condolences to Samuel's family, Bodoe said he worked with her in the 11th Parliament as vice-chairman of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee.

"She was humble but efficient, quiet but effective, dedicated and diligent, truly a gem of a person. She will be missed by all who knew her."

As he described her death as tragic, Bodoe said the alleged delay in diagnosing her condition speaks to the challenges that healthcare professionals face in the health sector.

Alleging that Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh "would have us believe that covid19 is responsible for all the current ills in the health sector," Bodoe claimed regional health authorities have been unable to fulfil their mandate under the Government because of poor management and lack of accountability.

"This has to do with systems that have collapsed under the watch of the PNM government despite at least $20 billion being allocated to the health sector between 2016 and 2019."

Machines will break down, he said, "but systems must never break down."

Bodoe said under the People's Partnership government an external patient programme was developed to provide a contingency for such cases to be outsourced in a timely intervention in exactly such circumstances.

He wondered why such an avenue was not used in this case.

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