The government is taking immediate steps to ensure that children stranded in India over non-payment for services at the Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai return home, and that outstanding charges to the hospital are met.

In a press release last night Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy said he had been instructed by President Jagdeo to take all necessary action to see that the children came home and for his ministry to put arrangements in place to prevent a recurrence of this situation.

He asked that anyone who agreed to go with individuals and organizations in the future contact the ministry so they could verify that everything was in order. The Ministry of Health, he continued, would not support an organization or individual with money to leave Guyana unless they could demonstrate they had the remaining funds to cover services abroad. Some of the children stranded in India had made requests to the government and had received support.

Ramsammy noted that this was the second time his ministry had had to pay outstanding bills for children seeking medical attention outside.

He said he had been in contact with Guyana’s High Commissioner to India Ronald Gajraj asking that he arrange for the children’s return and meet outstanding financial obligations.

The families of the children at the Frontier Lifeline Hospital are asked to contact the Ministry of Health.