Scores of contractors with responsibility for janitorial work at the country's public hospitals face the axe in the coming year. Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan who openly vented his anger and disgust over filthy conditions at the institutions, yesterday said his intention is to hire in-house cleaning contractors on a 24-hour basis to make the system more transparent and reliable. "I am moving to stop all external cleaning contractors and hiring only in-house contractors. "The hiring of external contractors would be stopped throughout all the Regional Health Authorities (RHA). It is millions of dollars being spent and the public hospitals are filthy and no work is being done," Khan said. He said once a contract was awarded externally it became very difficult to stop because of clauses within the contract.
Asked how many external cleaning firms had been awarded cleaning contracts for the Health Ministry Khan said "quite a few" adding that the number was "not known." Saying it was no secret that the conditions of the public hospitals left much to be desired, Khan questioned, "Why is it when you walk down the corridors of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital there are cobwebs, it has not been dusted and it is stink." He also considered that the hiring of in-house contractors would result in non-payment of overtime as workers would be rostered by shift system. "In that way cleaning staff would be working on a 24 hour basis and their work would also be closely monitored.
"I do not want anybody working eight to four. It is cheaper, the workers would be monitored in real time. "There would be no room for excuses. If they are not up to standard, then they would be promptly asked to leave," Khan added. Asked if there were proper accountability and monitoring of external cleaning contractors, Khan said "apparently not." "It seems that no one was monitoring these external cleaning contractors. I don't know why and I don't know why they have been allowed to get away without doing their jobs," Khan said. He said he has mandated chief medical officer of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital Dr Colin Furlonge to provide him with a list of the "basic problems" at the facility. "I want basic problems in the first instance, starting with the conditions at that hospital."
More foreign doctors
Acknowledging there has always been a shortage of nurses and doctors at the public hospitals, Khan said he would be embarking on a massive recruitment drive as medical practitioners from India, Nigeria, South Africa and the Philippines would be hired. Khan assured that these doctors would have been trained and holding British degrees. He said after two or three years of working in Trinidad and Tobago, Cuban doctors were earmarked to return to their homeland, leaving a void to always be filled. "My intention is to never have a shortage because every two or three years after the Cuban doctors leave we are always short.
"The intention is not to always be dependent on Cuban doctors and not be dependent on importing from the same source. In addition, Cuban doctors never settle in here," Khan explained. He said once the foreign doctors were sourced, his ministry would ensure there would be proper quality control. According to the Health Minister, the recruitment drive would also net lab technicians and pharmacists. He said this would lead to selective migration as he estimated that 50 per cent of the imported nurses, doctors, lab technicians and pharmacists would eventually settle in T&T.
Consultants to be upgraded
Another problem plaguing the health system is that of consultants neglecting patients at the public hospitals to purse private practice. And, in a move to immediately stop this Khan said his ministry would be seeking to upgrade Registrars to the post of acting consultants. "When you call out some of the consultants they don't come. "The only people, therefore, who could go into private practice would be consultants, not the acting consultants," Khan explained. He said the upgrade will also ensure there will be sufficient consultants at the several units of the public hospitals. "In the Accident and Emergency Department there needs to be a higher number and more experienced people, full time," Khan added.
Local doctors to work shift
Local doctors working at public institutions would be required to work a shift system next year to ensure there is never staff shortage. Khan said this would also cut down on hefty overtime payments the ministry was normally forced to shell out to doctors annually. Regarding the complaints by doctors of non-payment of over time Khan questioned "where all of this was coming from" as negotiations are soon due. "All of a sudden you hear all of these complaints and I have to wonder where it's all coming from. "I am sorry to hear what is happening but all these matters would be addressed."