NO PROFESSION in Barbados is untouchable, says Government Senator Reggie Hunte.
Contributing to debate on the Medical Profession Bill, 2010, in the Upper House yesterday, Hunte said doctors had to be subject to rules and discipline as those in any other professions. He noted that unfortunately Barbadians did not like to talk about deficiencies among doctors where merited.
He said there would always be “cracks in the system” but for too long the medical profession had been untouchable where sometimes questionable deaths occurred under a doctor’s watch and nothing happened or there were no reports forthcoming.
He said the new legislation made provisions where doctors would be held responsible for their actions, whether through suspension, termination or reprimand.
Hunte highlighted the onus being placed on doctors to produce medical reports within three months of applications being made. He cited examples of injured people being disadvantaged when it came to having insurance claims processed, as a result of the tardiness of doctors providing medical reports.
Hunte also scolded Opposition Senator Kerrie Symmonds for attacking the Government on the time it took for the bill to come to fruition, noting the bill was “around” during the 14-year period of the Barbados Labour Party’s administration and they had done nothing about it. He added the Democratic Labour Party’s record on health was impeccable.
Hunte said whenever the Opposition discussed health issues, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital [QEH] appeared to be the only focus.
But he suggested the QEH was only one facet of health care in Barbados. He added that situations such as unsanitary surroundings and filthy gutters, which could lead to people falling ill or being hospitalised, were also health issues, and were matters which the Government was addressing. (WG)
