THE Guyana Chronicle (28/11/2001) front page story, "Health Minister deplores administration at New Amsterdam Hospital," motivates me to congratulate Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy for the stand he has taken against medical personnel at that public health institution.

I cannot attest personally to this hospital being called "the worst administrated hospital in the country." But the Minister must be congratulated for his decisive stance to ensure disciplinary measures are taken against defaulters.

Hospitals all around the country treat emergencies in the context of non-importance. This kind of decision taken by the Minister of Health will encourage better service and more responsibility at hospitals nationwide.

In this time more importance is being placed on service. Businesses worldwide are being called upon to be more efficient. Guyana is expected to fall into line also.

This Minister and the Ministry of Health have been working assiduously to improve health care in the country with the commissioning of Health Centres in Lusignan, Enterprise and Edinburgh, new ex-ray facilities at New Amsterdam Hospital, a new elevator at the Georgetown Public Hospital, a residential doctor for Lethem, a $25M Poly Clinic at Enmore, 200 scholarships for the health sector, a continual HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, and the availability of anti retro viral pills for all hospitals nationwide by January 2002, not forgetting the present vaccination campaign being conducted.

However, the doctors and nurses have to realise the importance of their roles. They chose the profession of being primary care givers. They should live up to that. It is ridiculous for a seriously injured person to go to the hospital only to wait for long hours before the doctors turn up.

We must demand better from our hospitals and other service institutions.

Minister Ramsammy, you have done a good thing by stepping out and speaking the truth as it is. Congratulations!
Gloria Mangroo.