Letter to the Editor

Will we have learned a lesson from the Health Services situation?

Thursday, April 8, 2004

Dear Sir,

And so it comes to pass that the CEO of the Health Services Authority has left without explanation.

The “highest paid man in the land,” one way or another has stepped down in silence. Soon the Government may tell us why he was either fired or chose to take his leave, in order to offer his highly professional services elsewhere.

Would the country have learned a lesson? The Health Services Authority and the Minister of Health should answer to the people. They are the ones charged with responsibility for our health needs – not Mr Michael Elliott who came here, we were told on a signed contract for three years.

What did he do? Or fail to do? What could he do or not do? What is the state of health care facing the Cayman Islands HSA now?

In this connection the people of the Cayman Islands deserve an explanation from the Minister of Health, why it is that a man of such renowned character and skills, could not function to the country’s satisfaction, or the best of his ability.

Was it related to the fact that, during Mr Elliott’s one year, the HSA had at its consideration, ignorance, or avoidance, no less than nine returning Caymanian Doctors? Three of whom are married to doctors, making an ultimate total of 12 Caymanian doctors, comprising some seven different medical specialties, who are capable of representing the future of Health Care in the Cayman Islands.

The HSA and Government have failed to obtain contracts for many of these Caymanian doctors, who are lost talent, being forced into overseas interests to make a living.

Was it the fact that the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority has available, these seven needed specialties in medicine for whom no adequate preparation was ever made, in spite of the fact that at least some of these Caymanian professionals are bonded to the Cayman Islands Government?

Was it related to the fact that the Cayman Islands Government, Ministry of Health and the Health Services Authority appear resistant to consider their own and refuse to pay their worth in services to the good health of the people of the Cayman Islands? Was it related to a refusal to offer appropriate compensation to highly-qualified professionals?

Was it, as we’ve heard, that the Government and the Health Services Authority have not made acceptable contract renewals to the previously ‘used’ foreign professionals resulting in, among other complications, the hospital having no permanent pathologist, and no permanent radiologist?
Are the people out of order to ask for an explanation? How does this compromise our Health Care?

Was it the fact that members of the Board of the Health Services Authority admit, to people like me, that they have no knowledge of medicine, and cannot adequately communicate with high level medical professionals? Is their very presence on the Board effective to assure our good health?

Was it the fact that our Health Insurance Law is ineffective to secure the well-being of the patient, making it difficult and dangerous for medical professionals to function in our best interests?

Was it the fact that at the end of the day, the Cayman Islands Government needs to adequately re-examine the Health Services Authority, the Health Insurance Law, and in general Health Services in the Cayman Islands, while looking to ourselves and our own qualified and experienced Caymanians whom the public and the Ministry of Education know are second to none?

Merle McGann-Burke
(nee Whorms)

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