Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

The Grenada Medical Association (GMA) has voiced support for the call made by the GRENADA TODAY newspaper for systems to be put in place for the better regulation of all hospitals and medical institutions on the island.

"The GMA supports the editor when he calls for better regulation of hospital and public health practices....", said GMA President, Dr. Robert Yearwood.

The paper made the call in last week's editorial in light of certain fears being expressed by the public following the tragic passing of 45-year old civil servant Jacqueline Penny-Frank following surgery at a private hospital in St. George's.

In issuing support for the call made by GRENADA TODAY, Dr. Yearwood said the responsibility for ensuring that the systems are put in place lies with the Ministry of Health headed by Ann David-Antoine.

Following is the full text of the GMA statement:

Included in the aims and objectives of the Grenada Medical Association (GMA), is the advancement, of medicine within the State. It is appropriate that the GMA comment on the editorial of Grenada Today, Friday May 27.

The editorial enquire whether the public is protected by standards regulating health care providers within the State. Without making accusations,since the editor admits to be incompetent to determine so, he uses the sad case of Mrs Jacqueline Penny Frank, to ask whether or not the hospital concerned, and all hospitals in Grenada, are "up to standard and engaged in shabby treatment of patients in their care."

It is in this light that I comment, the aim being to give a balanced perspective on the state of affairs, and hopefully a little reassurance. For a long time there are some who have lost confidence in our health system (understandably so in some instances). It is also true that trust must be earned.

However things are not as bad as some may fear, and we should note what is good, less we sink into the rushed judgements and choices borne out of despair and ignorance.

The loss of Mrs Jacqueline Penny-Frank is a tragedy. The GMA is saddened by her death, and give sincere condolences to her family. Her loved ones are owed a satisfactory explanation of the circumstances leading to the tragedy, this is their right, and it is not a public affair, unless they so make it.

The physicians involved in her case are bound by medical ethics and duty to honestly and critically investigate the facts leading up to her problem, with the aim of making themselves accountable to the family, and to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Although I am not involved in the case, I am aware of the facts. Out of respect to the privacy of the family, I will only say that her doctors have openly given account to the family, and in no way was the tragedy caused by shabby care. The medications used would have been no different anywhere in the Caribbean, and have been vetted by the highest regional authorities on the matter. So there is no rational reason for patients to change their treatment plans because of fear.

The GMA supports the editor when he calls for better regulation of hospital and public health practices, and that this responsibility lies with the Ministry of Health. What I can say is that 2001, the Private Hospital and Nursing Homes Bill was formulated. The bill is a hybrid of many acts from more developed nations.

The bill seeks to regulate and ensure acceptable standards of administration, design, and activities within private hospitals. It makes provision for proper record keeping, inspection, and reporting of patient deaths to the Health Authorities, as well as the Coroner in specified situations.

Although the Bill is not enforced, the major private hospitals voluntarily comply.Their procedures, systems and equipment are appropriate and contemporary.

Even though the private institutions are safe, in that they meet the appropriate standards for the type and level of services they perform, it would be unrealistic to expect complications or unfavourable outcomes to never happen.

They can and do occur everywhere in the world, despite the most diligent attention and care. In Grenada the level of investment in range of services is limited by the reality of what patients can afford to pay, and limitations of economy of scale.

However, because procedures requiring cutting edge technology are not performed, it does not mean that the system is unwholesome. The fact is that most of the common illnesses are routinely managed successfully in Grenada, and only a minority need be referred elsewhere.

I thus strongly disagree with those who hold the view that it is best to go abroad whenever possible. There are many patients who have been well cared for in Grenada, and who can give testimony supporting my view based on their actual experience, rather than from rumours.

Unfortunately it is the nature of things that only unfavourable cases grab the spotlight, while the good cases which represent the vast majority, are taken for granted and afforded no merit. The Public Hospitals are regulated by a different standard, the Hospitals Act (Cap. 135) and the regulations made under it. This is an old act, and should be reviewed. It is the GMA's view that all hospitals should be guided by the same standards.

The GMA finds the current Medical Act to be archaic and inadequate. We are concerned about the lack of progress of the new and modern act which was drafted two years ago.

The GMA was enthusiastically involved in the process. The act is very good and progressive. Among other things, it defines the practices of medicine protecting the public from charlatans, requires proof of continuous medical education prior to annual renewal of the license to practice proof of continuous medical education prior to annual renewal of the license to practice medicine, and makes provision for the profession to be more accountable, as well as disciplinary processes.

The GMA once again calls upon the authorities to put these acts back on the priority agenda. Not because the health care system is bad, but because it could be made better.

It is desirable and beneficial to all stake holders that Grenadians have confidence in their health services. This will only happen if there are standards against which services can be objectively measured. The GMA stands by as usual to assist and give council to the Ministry of Health.