"A LACK of patriotism" is how president of the Medical Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Frank Ramlackansingh, has described the destruction of a drill used to perform brain surgeries at the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH).

Ramlackansingh said blame for the hospital being without a drill for the past four months could not be placed squarely on the shoulders of the Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan, nor his ministry, but also on the individual or individuals who destroyed it.

He said, "We abhor there being lack of instrumentation for any sort of operation.

"But we also have to realise that there is a limit to how much any Government or any ministry can supply. What has to be abhorred even more is a lack of patriotism and lack of fellowship to our fellow human beings. If you destroy an instrument you must know its going to affect persons on a daily basis."

The Express reported exclusively yesterday that Tobagonian Rahil Hosein died on October 6 after several days waiting for brain surgery to be performed on him at the Port of Spain General Hospital. It was discovered that there was no functioning drill to perform the surgery, that the one in use at the hospital was destroyed. Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan claimed that it was an act of sabotage.

Ramlackansingh said, "If in fact this was done, then there's no accountability wherever they are working and whatever department or RHA (Regional Health Authority), then they can get away with it. Otherwise they wouldn't do it. It's a general lack of accountability right through the Health Service, and this is why there are so many complaints against the Health Service."