Shame, shame, shame on CHC

I just learned that CHC management told Dr. Loutoby, the lone nephrologist working at CHC, that if he did not accept a 20-percent pay cut his contract would not be renewed. This is absolutely ridiculous considering that Dr. Loutoby’s single-nephrologist salary is fully funded by federal money and that he is doing the job of two nephrologists (even though CHC receives federal funding for both)! Federal funding for two nephrologists—yet the one we have is forced to take a 20-percent salary cut?

What the heck are the Secretary of Public Health and the other managers and administrators at CHC thinking? I thought the purpose and goal of the Department of Public Health is to care for and preserve the health of the people of the CNMI. They are not doing it. Consequently, they should be fired for being inadequate and incapable; and real medical managers and administrators should be appointed and hired to properly lead and manage CHC.

Last year, Dr. Loutoby saved my kidneys. The people of the CNMI suffer with diabetes and an inordinate amount of kidney and dialysis problems, yet CHC management loses the one doctor with the experience and training to help. A nephrologist is a physician who has been educated and trained in kidney diseases, kidney transplantation, and dialysis therapy. Does anyone seriously believe there is not a critical need for such a doctor in the CNMI?

CHC gets a lot of federal diabetes money—yet it fails to retain the one doctor that can help, and continues to fail to hire even a single diabetic nurse. These failures at CHC guarantees that our family members and friends with kidney needs will die prematurely instead of enjoying extended and happier and healthier lives. What a shame. What a crime.

Please governor, remove these incompetent managers, and appoint someone to these critical health positions that will actually manage CHC without the apparent insecurities and short-sightedness of the current administrators. Of the few remaining doctors at CHC, I imagine some of them have administrative experience. Appoint someone who knows what they are doing and keeps in mind the health and welfare of the community when making decisions.

This is the political season, and I suggest we all look closely at the candidates and ask ourselves who will actually help transform CHC from the place where people go to die to a place where people go to be healed.