Scores of cancer patients in desperate need of chemotherapy are being turned away from the oncology centre of the San Fernando General Hospital because of staff shortages at the oncology’s pharmacy.
The problem started three months ago when a senior pharmacist in charge of mixing the chemotherapy drugs, resigned from the South West Regional Health Authority to take up a better job offer in Tobago. Since then only one pharmacist has been on duty at the Oncology Centre and chemotherapy services was subsequently curtailed.
A source who requested anonymity said only 39 patients are given chemotherapy each week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. More than 60 patients come to the oncology centre for treatment each day so the majority of patient appointments have to be rescheduled.
“For three days for the week, they are giving 13 people chemotherapy but this is really not enough. Too many cancer patients are not getting the treatment and every day they are closer to death,” the source added.
Lalchan Sirju, of Penal Rock Road, whose wife Ramdularie Sirju, 38, was diagnosed with cervical cancer, said he was very worried.
Sirju, who is self employed as a welder, said he spent more than $20,000 in medical bills since his wife was diagnosed in January. He said the hospital’s CT scanner broke down and he was told by a senior doctor that if he did the scan privately, Ramdularie will get the chemotherapy earlier.
“I had to fork out $4,000 from our savings to do the scan and since February we waiting and she has not received a single session of chemo yet,” Sirju said. He said that Ramdularie has to get three sessions of chemotherapy before getting a session of laser radiation at the St James Medical Complex.
“I come here twice a week with my wife and every time we getting the run around. I am really afraid I will lose her. I love my wife and I want her to be better,” a distraught Sirju said.
With their savings quickly dwindling, it was becoming difficult to make ends meet.
Another cancer patient, Deborah Gajadhar, of Princes Town, said her last chemotherapy session was in January.
“I was supposed to get the chemo every three weeks. It is a continual process since I was diagnosed with buccal cancer. It is so heart breaking. I got an appointment for next week but I am still not sure if I will get the chemotherapy,” Gajadhar said.
Saying she was surviving by the grace of God, Gajadhar begged the Government to send a trained pharmacist to the oncology centre as soon as possible.
“They supposed to be treating 26 people a day. I hope that the service could be on stream soon,” she said.
Hospital response
Chief Executive Officer of the South West Regional Health Authority Anil Gosine confirmed that the pharmacist resigned more than six weeks ago. He said the SWRHA was currently in the process of training two other pharmacists. He said full oncology services will come on three within the next three weeks.
Gosine said all patients will be rostered for chemotherapy. He said the full compliment of staff will deal with any backlog, adding that it was impossible to fill the vacancy earlier because the pharmacist had to be specially trained to use the bio-safety cabinet for the mixing of the chemotherapy drugs.
