Dear Editor,
Regarding the recent saga surrounding Nalini Budhram and the Northshore Medical College, I know that in other worlds, medical schools have to be accredited before they can conduct programmes aimed at training potential doctors. Accreditation is viewed as the tool for quality control and improvement of medical education programmes. What role, if any at all, did the National Accreditation Council of Guyana play in this so-called medical school being allowed to open its doors? Only in Guyana, I daresay could such a thing take place. What are the qualifications of Nalini Budhram? At what institution were the medical students supposed to be receiving their field experience? This situation cries out (and loudly too), for an investigation by the Accreditation Council. Guyana cannot afford to play dolls house when it comes to the training of those who will ultimately swear to uphold the Hippocratic Oath.
To say the least, the Ms Budhram had a chequered past, with aliases rivalling those of a chameleon. Northshore Medical College was advertised as being one of the leading medical colleges in Guyana, offering many professional careers in health care. A Dr Singh was listed as one of the loan officers. In 2013, Ms Budhram had opened the Inter American Nursing School, and the Guyana Health Care Education Institute, both of which were closed down under the watch of the previous government following the discovery of fraud. In 2014 she reopened the Inter American Nursing School which was ultimately closed down. How can one human being run roughshod through a system and over so many governmental regulations?
I would like to insist that the present government launch a thorough inquiry and investigation. According to one medical practitioner the current system contains loopholes that allow such schemes to proliferate.
Well the game is over; the loopholes are known and have been shown. Armed with the facts the government is called on to act.
Yours faithfully,
Yvonne Sam
