A healthcare budget for PPP cronies

No one, not even PPP most ardent supporters, would deny that the health sector is in dire straits under this cluelessly installed government. For we have witnessed, and painfully so, the deaths of our loved ones, having sought medical attention at the understaffed and underinvested health institutions.

Where these wholly avoidable deaths, many with innocuous ailments, count our young mothers, newborns, and children. And it’s in this context, the downtrodden masses, mournful after four burdensome years, awaited the 2025 budget in absolute states of fear.

Now, having awaited the $1.382t budget, with $143.2B allocated to the health sector, one would’ve been excused in believing, PPP neglecting this ministry for over 27yrs, has turned a new policy page. But that’s unsurprisingly not the case, with $65.4B or over 45% of this budgetary allocation being appropriated for drugs, medical supplies, and infrastructure development.

And with such an allocation, it must be reminded that Dr. Bobby Ramroop, a PPP crony, is the installed government sole provider of medical drugs and supplies. Further, it must also be reminded that PPP awarding of infrastructure contracts, is through the secret channels of political cronies. Thus, the irrefutable conclusion it is, that over 45% or some $65.4B of this health sector budgetary allocation, will be pocketed by PPP cronies.

And with a mammoth $65.4B to be pocketed by PPP cronies, means a paltry $77.8B is being appropriated to this historically underfunded ministry. That said, none would refute that our health infrastructure, PPP neglected for 27yrs, isn’t in desperate need of repairs and upgrades. However, whilst we acknowledge this need, what’s more pressing is the recruitment and retention of health professionals, who are emigrating by the droves.

Now, having argued remuneration as the greatest underpinning reason for this brain drain, this column would humbly recommend greater investment in healthcare training and remuneration. But that’s not to be, as PPP arguing the defeated case of a world-class health sector, only allocated pittance for training, even as remuneration remains paltry.

Furthermore, this column having recognised PPP 27yrs of infrastructure neglect, would reiterate the argument, there is an evidentiary need for said capital works. However, this column wouldn’t support the logic, infrastructure works should be at the expense of a liveable wage.

In fact, it’s very possible that both infrastructure development with budgetary cuts, and a liveable wage, could be undertaken concurrently. But PPP taking our health professionals for granted, are tunnel vision on infrastructure development to benefit their political cronies, even as our health professionals are forced to survive on pittance.

Moreover, the installed government having recognised the underpinning reasons for this brain drain, are nevertheless without ideas as it pertains to remedial strategies. As a result, devoid of remedial strategies, have them cluelessly arguing the case of employing foreign health professionals, to fill the vacancy chasm.

However, such a policy is destined to failure, since these health workers, mostly from Bangladesh and Cuba, are likely to be troubled by a language and culture barrier. And with them facing these barriers, it’s the impoverished masses, that will have to live with the consequences of their medical errors.

So, herein lies the conclusion, despite the $143.2B appropriated for the health sector, the fact is, it will forever remain in crisis, since most of the monies will find its way into the pockets of PPP cronies. And with corruption diverting monies into the pockets of PPP cronies, the consequence is, healthcare professionals will continue to leave in droves, as they search for greener work friendlier pastures.

In fact, such was painfully evident at the GPHC, where representing a microcosm of the wider health sector, a colossal 700 nurses’ vacancies were registered. Thus, even as we painfully reflect on the health professionals’ exodus, we have to mourn for the masses who continue to flock the understaffed and underinvested health institutions, paying the ultimate price with their lives.