The Ministry of Health is denying a story published in a local newspaper that claimed there has been no functional CT machine at the Princess Margaret Hospital for over a year now.
In a release on Thursday the ministry described the story as ‘misleading and erroneous.’
According to the release the last CT scan was done at the hospital on March 25, 23.
“The Ministry further advises that on March 28, 2013, a call was placed to Medika International Inc. by the Maintenance Supervisor and the Senior Radiographer at the Princess Margaret Hospital reporting to the company about an XC error on the CT machine,” the released said. “They were instructed to shut down.”
It stated that arrangements were promptly made by the ministry to address the matter after receiving a report from the Hospital Management Team.
“The Service Engineer arrived in Dominica on April 2, 2013 in the evening,” the release recounted. “On the April 3, 2013, he arrived at the X-ray Department at 8:30am and diagnosed that the x-ray tube was faulty, needed replacement and reported to the Facilities Manager his findings. A service report was submitted to Head Office, who advised total shut down of the machine on that day.”
The ministry said a request was made to Medika for an invoice and the Hospital received that invoice for the replacement part on the April 5, 2013. “Payment for that replacement has been made and we have been informed by the company that the part was shipped to Dominica and will arrive in a few days,” it said.
The ministy said every effort is being made to solve the matter and is now apologizing for any inconveniences caused.
The entire fleet of equipements that the government spend millions on is in a state of disrepair. Go do your research, ask the equipment operator/patience. It surely indicates a cross miss management of maintenance.
The thought crossed my mind. Considering the cost, I hope the P.M.H. did not receive a repaired/recycled CT machine. This could easily happen. When the government thinks it got a well-equipped machine, it may have been a used one.
An example, a scandal in Toronto recently. Over 1000 cancer patients received a watered-down cancer treatment dating back to two years to today. Their charge for the treatment was not water-downed. Some of them rip-off the government. They provide less service at an exorbitant cost as they mess around with patients’ health. Not all were from Toronto. Some have since died. This is scary. The Ontario Premier is getting hell for it. The hospital did not detect it or so we are told. I foresee huge lawsuits looming. They may already have filed suits.
The DA government should enquire from the provider about that broken down CT machine and if it was a brand new one. Will the truth be really told? There are times people are taken advantage of and are short-changed. They do not get what they pay for. Governments are no exception.
at least there is one in Domininca and you do not have to travel out of DA to get a scan done.there are places in the region where there is none so just be patient and thank God.
Boss I agree with you. They have all the foreigners who can afford to pay for their medical services, giving it to them free. How will they generating funds to pay for repairs. We are so smart in Dominica eh. Another area they have to look into, is the cost of supplies for the lab. Is people like me that stay here & suck salt they will want to pay every cent in order to receive service. As they say, life is unfair.
What about this story changed the fact that there is no working CT Scan presently? That is the fact, it was reported that there is no scan machine functional which is what this report is supporting.
Once I had read the news story, I knew for a fact that it was erroneous as I had a CT scan done in November 2012. It, therefore, cannot be a year since the last CT Scan was done. It is now May 2013. We should try at all times to report correct information.
Is the CT Scan machine working now? It would have been nice if they could disclose how long again before the machine would be operational.
This account is true.. people do breakdown and machines can as well; yes I agree that there should always be a functioning CT machine in Dominica but the fact remains: the Chronicle’s story was a total lie. Reporters in Dominica must learn to get their facts straight before publishing stories that are untrue!!
Was new machine recommended instead of repair??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Well Well Well Dominicans not easy or we have memoire poulle.
20 years of the then labour administration no CT scan, No MRI, No Intensive Care Unit, No Diagnostic Centre.
15 years of Freedom Party None of the above in the hospital.
4.5 years of UWP government no CT Scan, No MRI, No Intensive Care Unit no Diagnostic Unit.
In 2006 this Labour party administration provided CT Scan, Intensive Care Unit, Hyperbarric Chamber, Diagnostic Unit, self making oxygen plant, portable X ray machines, improved dialysis unit, Mamogram machine to detect breast cancer.
The CT scan is down for a week and we complain bitterly. We forget that for all the years before 2006 we had no CT Scan service at the hospital. Did we complain so biterlly under the previous governments who did not see it fit and proper to provide the service? We really have memoire poulle.
only one thumbs up u can get but don,t believe i did not click the thumbs up multiple times.
I will never trust u guys
Why did it take 4 days to respond?
Trying to come up with some smart answer right?
De same day de report came out on de paper u couldn’t come out and refute de report? U had to go and think of a classy response flying words above people heads eh.
Boss man, all ah we nah stupid
we were gathering the facts: dates when the last scan was done, and what measures have been taken thus far etc to make sure we make an informed statement. we would not likely jump in haste like the Chronicle and make an uniformed statement.
I’m still trying to see what was so misleading in the news article. FACT: The scan has had many issues over time, up today, down tommorow. When it’s up and running appointments are often rescheduled because there are so few people trained to use it, and this is my own personal experience and frustration. I took my nephew to Barbados for a CT scan because I had it with PMH, how many other people can do that? Some people in managment positions in Dominica to thin skin, idle and can’t face reality.
If you have a car with no tires and engine sitting on 4 blocks is it still a car worth boasting about?
So many complaints over a CT scan machine that’s not working for a day .I don’t want to compare Dominica to other islands but sometimes I think we are too blessed in comparison yet we complain so much.Think of living on an Island like Anguilla.If someone suffers a stroke, you have to find US 1000,to charter a flight to neighboring St. Martin (8 minutes flight)to have a CT scan done.My point is that we are still better off than others.However if we own one , the authorities should ensure that it is always functional.
You don’t need a CT if you have a stroke. You need a fibrolytic agent to break up the clot. Ignorance abounds.
A stroke is not always caused by a clot. A CT scan will determine what kind of stroke it is. A fibrolytic agent could do more harm if you don’t know what you are working with.
this ct machine has always been giving problems over the years…. so i,m not surprise of poor diagnosis…. and you all know it! o
where for the govt to put the money they not putting it
So whats the denying about?
You now come and say the same thing to us that you are denying. That truth of the matter is that “there is no functional CT Machine on island”
DON’T INSULT OUR INTELLIGENCE!!!!!
The department of health is just irresponsible, the health of the pple needs to be taken seriously, a new highway and a ct scan goes hand n hand…
So why don’t thry just shut down the Ministry of Health? It appears that there are too many malfunctioning machines inside the ministry itself.
I am just sp fed up with all these inefficiencies. When persons who are qualified, experienced and competent are hired in this country irrespective of which party they support we will see progress, until such time, Dominicans take all you licks.
Too many square legs in the round holes.
Did the ministry’s press release provide historical information on how often the machine has been out of commision during the last year? If the machine is out of commision once a month, or for mutiple weeks/months at a time, such that it is more often out of use than in use, then (in my opinion) it is perfectly reasonable to say that there isn’t a working machine. If the machine cannot be counted on to be available when needed, it’s not working. Also, why is a part that was invoiced on April 5 not yet on island and installed?
When one breaks down it is important to have it repaired ASAP since it is crucial for those who are in dire need of getting a scan. I suppose it is too expensive to have one in reserve.
How about those X-Ray machines in those days? Did they not break down and who fixed them and quickly? Patience nationals who criticize the system and make uncomplimentary remarks. Now that DA is improving, I do think that your expectations are too high and you are lacking in patience and understanding. Appreciation also goes a long way. These are godly virtues.
Justice and Truth, your ignorance makes me sick
So does yours make me sick and your lack of understanding.
Face the facts. It is noticeable that some people expect too much and all at once. It is selfishness and self-centeredness. They must show gratitude. 
Crucial for whom? The people who make these decisions get flown out immediately and never have to deal with the repercussions of their poor governance.
Appreciate the non-functioning of critical equipment? Are u loco?
Oh that’s the price we pay for free medicals eh! No money to fix CT machine!!
What did you expect
Some of us Dominicans to like FREENESSSS., that is why the hospital cannot upgrade. Some of us don’t even want to pay the $5 fee but yet still we want good service, ebey we Dominic.
and reports on the TV and radio by charlo and skerro is that 5 million dollars were given to the NDFD to aid small and micro businesses , I say MORE LIES ,LIES ,LIES
I was told that you got to come up with 600 EC to use that scan before you use it, what happens to the poor person that cant afford it?.
The poor person can pay for their bill in instalments….just like how any other responsible poor person can do. Even if is $10 a month they can put.
The same poor people that have addidas, sebago , nike etc. That is why the CT can’tbe fixed fast because we to like to rely on handouts
The machine has not been working so all the excuses are just lies to continue fooling the public. Dominicans open your eyes, things are what what they should be!!!
lies lies lies the machine is not working end of story.
There should always be a working CT Scanner on Island, how are you going to diagnose a stroke? That is why most places have 2 machines, one as back up.
Does Dominica have an MRI?
Go tell that to the State Palace and the stadium.
You get what you pay for.
According to a popular talk show host,”it is better to be considered a fool, then to open your mouth and remove all doubts.” Not having a funtional CT machine in your hospital for one day in unsatisfactory,farless for not having it for a week, month or year.These excuses will not get any sympathies or understanding from the Dominican people. What if our Prime Minister had a serious medical problem, would you tell Dominicans and the World by extension that you had to shut down your CT machine because it needed parts. Do you expect a business man to seriously think of doing business in Dominica under those conditions.
Well why you think before our ministers start to complain of a tooth ache they get flown out of Dominica. Is we that gwayehing that will stay PMH and suffer the consequences of not having functional CT Machines or X-ray and even paracetamol.
Not all of us are fortunate enough to fly overseas to get a CT scan done.
Are we going to wait until one of our public figures is in an unstable condition and unable to fly before the CT scan at PMH is fixed?
Priority is Priority!!
In the mean time the minister responsible for health will fly to Martinique Hospital for health related issues and poor Domi in cans will continue to vote and defend these people… What a joke.
So what is incorrect about the news paper report?
The CT Scan is not working!
Who signed that statement? Dr. Johnson I sincerely hope it isn’t you.
Thank you for stating the facts on this matter. I believe, from what i read, that the Ministry of Health acted promptly and responsibly. Good!
Of course, in a Dominica where facts do not matter and fiction, gossip, rumours, speculation, and phantasmagoria have more weight than truth, you ought to know that this news release will not appease the critics.
Now, having stated the truth. When will the Ministry of Health send a legal document to that news house demanding a retraction and an apology for its erroneous, and probably mischievous reporting?
I believe the story published in the local mnewspaper,and not the excuse by the Ministry of health, which consists of personnel who are singing for their supper. A broken down machine is tantamount to no machine.
This is where $ 27 000 000.00 should have gone…Not in a useless structure, while poor people cannot access proper health care.
A BUNCH OF LAZY CLUELESS AND INCOMPETENT LEADERS.
SHAME ON THEM for impoverishing Dominica.
I guess the paper should have read… “only ct scan at the hospital not functioning until further notice”
Why is there only one machine…all machines gives up at sometome, thats why more than one is needed
27 million for a desperately needed state house
Is it a conincedence all this happened after april fools day????
**coincidence
it seem the people who thumb you down have bedrooms in that state palace , because i for sure cannot see the logic behind a 27 million dollar state palace when health services are hampered by lack of nix and naks
No just stupid. Every country has that percentile. Like the Tea Party for example.
It’s just a fact of life.
So why are you all rubbishing the report? Fact is there may be a machine but the DAMN thing is not working. So, the report is right that there are no working or available CT Scanners on Island. What part of that statement that you all are soooooooo don’t understand that you have to come and rubbish a report that is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT?
On another note, the item deemed faulty is a maintenance item because they do go out on a “somewhat” regular basis. Why isn’t that an inventoried item in storage? Further, in this day and age why did we buy the equipment, have it installed without training someone at home to maintain it? Come on Mr. Minister and hospital administrator! Why are you guys sleeping at the wheel? These machine cost in excess of $1Million USD so don’t you think we need to baby it? How do you expect to baby it with no maintenance technician on island? That is simple, simple management know how. But I guess some of us will still stand idle and watch these people destroy Ma Dominique while making excuses for mediocrity. Alas, Alas!!!!!!
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
Priorities are on state palace, for example. Big fancy roads where roads already exist. These projects have a much bigger impact because EVERYONE sees them.
How many poeple will see the CT Scan? and it’s so small on top of that especially compared to our state palace and west coast highway.
Understand “niggeritis governance” and you will no longer be confused. You will be dead as we have no hospital but you will not be confused
I think the article says that they are “rubbishing” the ‘misleading and erroneous” parts of the report – the part about not having a functional one for over 1 yr.
I didn’t see anywhere in the article where the Govt says that the report in it’s entity is a lie.
But none the less – that’s crazy. But this is Dominica. My grandmother died because the ambulance didnt even have a bloody oxygen tank or even a defribillator … to resusitate my grandmother.
That’s the Dominica health care system for you
Unless they train one of the existing staff members to maintain that piece of equipment, it may be cheaper to bring a person it for when it requires maintenance.
Everybody wants everything, but nobody wants to pay for it.
Mosieur Quick , Quack.
‘Monsieur’
When you use French, know how to spell the word.
so what now? i just going to die?
In bygone years Dominica did not have a CT machine. I wonder how they did without it? In fact the majority of us even as young adults never heard of this machine and its name. In those days, few young people got sick and died. Likewise adults. I recall the majority of people who died were the aged.
Few people, if none at all ever die before their time. Everyone has a lifespan. Just speaking the truth – of the matter.
Dominicans are fortunate to have one. Today, in view of numerous accidents and other ailments, it is necessary to have one which is functioning but they do break down. It does not only happen in DA. This is something to keep in mind.
Do not worry. You will not die before your time.
What utterrubbish! In bygone years Dominica had no car, who did we do without them? In bygone years Dominica didn’t have the level of corruption are you not more concerned about that ?
Hope you negative callers and critisizers understand.They so quick to play the blame game when they can’t do better.
stuppppesss, put the cone on your head and go sit facing the corner…..
I wonder if the cost of the part is not worth buying a new machine. A ct machine is not all needed urgently at the PMH…..alas!