No tissue, no problem?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

A short video has been circulating on social media highlighting the plight of a patient, apparently from USA, who was asking for tissue in a public hospital in Jamaica.

While it is well known that patients are responsible for personal care supplies, the basics such as tissue could be provided. Hospitals and medical facilities are based on hygiene and sanitation. We can’t boast about soaring visitor arrivals when basic supplies cannot be given to patients, which may include visitors.

The nurse in the video told the patient, “this is not America”.

I wanted to laugh but couldn’t.

As funny as the clip was, it is also sad as it highlights the state of public healthcare. I’ve heard of patients having to buy needles for injection. I’ve also heard of doctors going into their own pockets to buy supplies. Healthcare is the basis for development, and a little issue such as lack of tissue speaks to a much bigger problem which must be addressed. The reputation of these hospitals isn’t good to begin with; we don’t understand that it’s the little things that matter most.

These days social media allow us to zero in on these problems and magnify them. We must ask ourselves constantly, how can we improve basic service to people to make things better?

Most problems are not complex, yet we allow them to manifest into bigger issues which ultimately become a national embarrassment.

P. CHIN

chin_p@yahoo.com