Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says the government is presently arranging for an increase in the number of Anesthesiologist at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.
Last month Representative for West Kingstown Honorable Daniel Cummings says he is very much concerned about the backlog of operations at the island main health facility.
Cummings speaking on the New Times Program last month said this is due to an acute shortage of Anesthesiologist.
Gonsalves on Thursday said in June two of the three Anesthesiologist at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital were absent from duty due to having fallen ill within a few days of each other.
He said this resulted in several planned operations at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital having to be postponed.
Cummings had also stated that the lack of Anesthesiologist was happening at a time when hundreds of thousands of United States dollars are being paid out to prevent the people of this country through their lawyers to examine the ballot boxes.
The NDP on the 30th of June gained the courts approval to have their petitions to be heard concerning allegations of fraud in the 2015 general elections.
However, Gonsalves said that the Chief Medical Officer is seeking to get short-term arrangements to remedy the situation, and the government will finance those arrangements.
To help remedy the situation, the Prime Minister noted that he contacted this country’s Ambassador to Cuba and requested that the Cuban authorities send one or two Anesthesiologists to the country, this along with efforts to get a short term replacement out of Trinidad.
Cummings in July said he has a cousin, a retired Anesthesiologist very well trained and in good health, and the authorities refused to consider him knowing there is a shortage.
Gonsalves further stated on Thursday discussions on this issue are also being held with the Taiwanese officials, and the World Paediatric Project (WPP).