Our developmental plans are dysfunctional, particularly in the health sector. Billions of dollars are being spent building hospitals from Arima to Couva to Point Fortin and they are neglecting to develop the human capital to staff these hospitals.
Where are we going to get the oncologists, neurosurgeons, pediatric cardiologists and other relevant health care professionals to service these hospitals?
Just think, within the last 16 months in Tobago, 18 babies have lost their lives according to Tobago Forwards leader, Ms Christlyn Moore. The mortality rate in the maternity ward is too high for both expectant mother and baby. Our doctors are challenged by the simple surgical procedure, the C-Section. I have seen doctors on the cable channel TLC exhibiting confidence before and after the procedure. Both mother and baby come out alive!
We need to adopt a comprehensive plan of raising the critical mass of human capital. We can start by sending 50 medical interns to do their internship in hospitals in the USA under the expert guidance of well-trained senior doctors. Upon their completion about 20 per cent can go on to do their residency in various specialist fields to become Board certified.
They must return to Trinidad and work for 10 years or they would be decertified by the Medical Board here.
By the time all the infrastructure is in place we would have trained personnel waiting to work at these hospitals.
It does not cost $1 billion to send 50 interns to America for the next four years. The Tertiary Education Minister agrees that we must prepare for the future. As it stands now all sod-turning ceremonies should be replaced by scholarships to interns to work in the best medical country in the world the USA.
John Jessamy
Fyzabad