Healthcare given to citizens unacceptable- APNU’s Dr. Karen Cummings

L-R Former Health Minister Dr. Karen Cummings, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony 

The A Partnership for National Unity on Saturday said that the healthcare system in Guyana and the healthcare given to citizens is declining and unacceptable respectively. The APNU voiced its concerns through a press statement signed by former Minister of Health in the Coalition government, Dr. Karen Cummings.

“Complaints have been made about the long waiting times for patients to see a doctor in the emergency room at the Georgetown Public Hospital. This may be attributed to delays in handing over of shifts by the Doctors and the healthcare team, and perhaps incomplete and lack of proper physical examination of the patients, which can lead to worsening health outcomes. Criticisms of misdiagnoses have also been levied among physicians who may be tired or overworked” the release from Dr. Cummings noted.

Long waiting time to see a doctor, lack of proper physical examination of patients, incompetence, delayed shift changeover, misdiagnoses, and tired and overworked staff are among the reasons cited by the APNU that could be responsible for the declining healthcare system.

Just last week a young lady died on her clinic day at the Georgetown Public Hospital months after she was diagnosed with having a brain tumor. The hospital is claiming that the now-deceased woman was not taking her prescribed medication> The dead woman’s mother dispelled those claims and said she was administering the prescribed medication to her daughter as directed by the doctors. She is of the view that her daughter died due to the inability of doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital to grant them an early surgery date.

“With G$129.8 billion dollars budgeted for this health sector in 2024, a clarion call goes out to the Minister to either step up and ensure that our Guyanese citizens experience optimal health or step down if opportunities to improve the healthcare system in Guyana are not grasped” a statement issued in the name of Dr. Cummings stated