New health minister promises to fix system; PM won't accept excuses

Fuad Khan is taking charge of the ministry of health at a time when there are great demands to deliver a higher quality of service.

And on Monday he pledged to begin transforming Trinidad and Tobago's health sector by making use of the health centres scattered across the country.

Khan, who served in the Panday administration as the junior minister of health under Dr Hamza Rafeeq, told reporters he plans to make the centres more efficient and offer a wider range of services to citizens.

"I need to look at the system as it is, see how we left it at 2001, and decide if it needs changing to get a different and better result because we can't go down the same path and expect something to change. It does not make any sense. We have to change it," he said.

He said he believes that focusing on the health centres as a point for primary care could reduce the demands placed on the main hospitals.

"A lot of the bed spaces can be deployed differently if you have a proper system at the ground level.

"So a lot of patients can access health care in mini hospitals I would say, utilising the District Health Facilities and the Health Facilities. Create small same-day surgery centres and mini hospitals. That will take the load off the major hospitals," the minister said.

However he said all his plans have to go to cabinet first.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters she is not accepting any excuses. "I expect him to deliver, deliver and deliver."

The new minister has got a vote of confidence from the Medical Professionals Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MPATT).

In a media release, MPATT said Khan's previous experience, along with his hands-on knowledge (he is a urolgist), will be a benefit to the health sector.

MPATT said it is looking forward to comprehensive changes in procurement, human resource management and in the provision and delivery of all aspects of health care services.