Buxtonians lament denial of healthcare

Feb 20, 2013 News

– cite Pharmacist’s absence, limited supply of drugs among worries

The Buxton Health Centre.

Several elderly persons were yesterday forced to leave the Buxton Health Centre to purchase their prescriptions elsewhere, as there was no Pharmacist present to give them their doses.
Kaieteur News in responding to complaints learnt that this is a usual scenario at the health facility, since the lone pharmacist had not been doing his job as is expected.
Persons complained that even if the pharmacist does show up, he does not work the amount of hours that he is supposed to.
A few senior citizens who remained at the health centre explained that on some occasions, the doctor himself would issue medication to patients.
However, there are days when the doctor’s workload is too much and he is unable to do so. This would cause a great deal of unease to particularly the seniors who would then have to go elsewhere and purchase their much needed drugs.
“I didn’t feel well, so I come hoping that the dispenser gon be here. But is when the doctor done see me then I hear that the pharmacist ain’t come to work again. This getting too much…now I can’t get my heart tablet today,” one woman said.

Several patients sit outside the doctor’s office.

In addition to this, Kaieteur News understands that the centre has not yet received drugs for 2013. The medication is therefore limited.
When contacted yesterday, Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran stated that while he is aware of an overall issue of the tardiness of workers across the country, he had not received any complaints of the Buxton Health Centre not receiving drugs for this year.
He opined that it may very well be the same delinquent pharmacist who had not contacted the Ministry to put in the claim for the drugs. Ramsaran promised that he will look into the matter.