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Amidst criticisms from a cancer patient about his alleged lack of compassion, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says the State is ready to assist any cancer patient who requires care at the nation’s hospitals.
He was speaking after cancer patient Arielle Fahey-Cadiz said she will pray for Deyalsingh so that he could get some compassion in his heart. She said even though she was offered surgery at the San Fernando General Hospital she had no confidence in the doctors’ abilities to save her life because of previous misdiagnosis.
She said after Deyalsingh responded to a question from Opposition MPs, he made it look as if people should not support her call for financial support to do her surgery outside of T&T.
But in a voice note yesterday, Deyalsingh said he wanted to correct certain misinformation concerning the cancer patient from San Fernando General Hospital.
“The State stands ready to support this and all other cancer patients in T&T as we have been doing,” Deyalsingh said. “The only reason I spoke in the Parliament was because Opposition asked an urgent question about whether the State will be providing any financial assistance to this patient. All treatment this patient needs is available locally.”
He also denied calling a radio station to refute claims made by the patient.
“It is claimed after this patient spoke to a radio station that I as Minister of Health contacted that radio station to refute claims being made by that patient. I had no idea that the patient had been on radio and certainly I would not call any radio stations. I just want to put these two issues in the public domain and say the Ministry of Health stands ready to assist this and all other cancer patients.”
Fahey-Cadiz , who suffers from osteosarcoma, is seeking US$200,000 for medical treatment overseas but Deyalsingh in Parliament said the public does not have to support that call because the treatment is available locally. (RD)