She was speaking at the opening of the Eye Operating Theatre and the newly refurbished Eye/ENT ward at the San Fernando General Hospital.
She said the chairman of the South West Regional Health Authority, Dr. Lakram Bodoe, will chair the committee, which will submit a report to the Minister of Health within three months.
Persad-Bissessar said she expects the committee will make recommendations regarding the proper policies, procedures and programs that will be implemented to prevent any recurrence of damage, injury or loss to patients, especially pregnant mothers and their babies.
"I can assure you that this Government is making every effort to ensure that patients receive the best possible care at our health institutions," she said, adding that health is a basic right that is constitutionally guaranteed to all citizens in Trinidad and Tobago.
Last week Chrystal Ramsoomair, 29, died at the San Fernando General Hospital following a C-section to deliver her baby.
An autopsy by pathologist Hubert Daisley revealed that the cause of death was hypovolaemic shock, poor hysterectomy, and Caesarean Section. Hypovolaemic shock results from severe blood loss which makes the heart unable to pump blood through the body.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Anton Cumberbatch has asked for a "complete investigation" into the circumstances relating to woman's death.
Read the story: CMO orders "complete investigation" in death of woman at San F'do General Hospital
The Prime Minister said she has read "with concern" the complaints from some patients and the allegations of improper patient management and care.
"I wish to assure you that these complaints will not fall on deaf ears. I have instructed the Honourable Minister of Health to investigate all such complaints with the views to determining whether the standard of care provided falls below the expected and acceptable standard of care," she said.
"I further instructed that these investigative reports be referred to the Honourable Attorney General for his advice on whether there was any negligence or wrongdoing.
"In appropriate cases, the victim may be compensated for damages and disciplinary action taken against the offending party," she promised.
Persad-Bissessar added that in other cases, the allegations and perception of negligence may be unjustified and without merit.
"In such cases, the findings of the investigation are communicated to the family in the hope that it will bring some closure and relief that what had transpired simply could not be helped," she said.
She said the findings of these investigative reports will be made public once the families have been notified.
Persad-Bissessar pointed out that while there are many instances when health care providers are not at fault and the loss was unavoidable, "the system must confront and treat with instances of medical negligence."
She gave as an example the recent cases of deaths caused by Dengue fever, which she said were neither preventable nor due to any error of judgement or negligent mistake on the part of health care professionals, doctors and nurses.
The Prime Minister also commented on the country's high infant mortality rate, saying there are far too many complaints about the standard and quality of patient management and care of pregnant mothers.
"As a mother and grandmother this is an area that causes me no end of worry. As you know, mothers and children occupy a special place in my heart," she said.
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