GINA - Mechanisms are in place to automatically investigate every maternal and infant death at public hospitals.

So says Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. Both the New Amsterdam Hospital and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation have the mechanisms to investigate such incidences. Other institutions, which do not have such mechanisms, are in the process of implementing them.

Minister Ramsammy said that in January, and again in April, the relevant sectors were instructed that any maternal or infant death must be automatically investigated.

The report on a recent maternal death at the New Amsterdam Hospital was submitted to the Ministry and it is currently being studied.

Dr Ramsammy said that as soon as this (the death) was reported, the investigating team of the hospital, led by Pastor Roy Thakurdial, carried out an investigation. Some weaknesses were identified and a number of recommendations made, as a result of this probe, the Minister disclosed.

The recommendations dealt with the processes involved, and some of them have already been implemented.

The report was not made public and the Minister does not want this to be misconstrued as the Ministry trying to conceal the issue.

“The non-publication of the report has nothing to do with the Ministry of Health or the Hospital attempting to keep it a secret,” Ramsammy said.

He stressed that it is a process and from the findings it will be determined whether a more in-depth investigation has to be done.

In addition to recommended changes, there will be further departmental changes and re-organisation within the hospitals. Ramsammy said that he recently spoke with the relevant officer of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), and by next Wednesday, specific changes will be instituted.

“We are not saying that every time such a death occurs that someone is to be blamed. But we look at the system and the kind of interventions in order to identify weaknesses,” the Minister noted.

Ramsammy said the report would be referred to the Medical Council for its recommendations. This development would further advise the Ministry on moving forward as regards the issue.

‘This initiative is in no way meant to point fingers, but if in the process we discover negligence, the appropriate action will be taken.”

The Health Minister reiterated that such a move is merely to improve the system and the quality of health care.