New GPHC CEO should be given opportunity to prove self – Max Hanoman

While concerns have been voiced about the appointing of retired GDF Brigadier George Lewis, to replace ousted Georgetown Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Allan Johnson, former Chairman of the hospital and doctor, Max Hanoman, says there shouldn’t be a rush to judgement .

The removal of Johnson as CEO of the hospital was made public on Thursday by the Ministry of Public Health through an announcement it said it received from GPHC Board Chairman Kesaundra Alves.

The information that the recently appointed deputy CEO, Lewis, would be replacing Johnson came in a follow-up statement.

Since the information was released, concerns have been raised in the public and on social media not only in relation to Lewis’ lack of experience in hospital administration but over the David Granger-led government’s penchant for putting ex-military officials in key public servant posts.

According to sources privy to Johnson’s personal information, the former CEO was also an ex-military official as he served as a Lieutenant in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Johnson also received training in England in the field of Hospital Administration.

Back in 2015, following the regional and general elections and subsequent change in government, the Ministry of Public Health had seconded Johnson from the New Amsterdam Hospital to act as the GPHC’s CEO.

In a letter to Johnson on why he was being removed from his post, the Chairman of GPHC cited “lapses” in his performance and tardiness.

“The incident before the PAC (Public Accounts Committee of Parliament) has embarrassed the Board and staff of this Corporation and, to our dismay, has caused the public to question the desire of the Board for transparency and accountability in the handling of the Corporation’s money, ” the letter stated.

Further, it added that the Board “also had cause to question your judgement on a number of occasions. Moreover, you continue to be absent or request early release from Board and Board Committee meetings… (and) are therefore consistently unavailable to supply the Board with pertinent information or to take instructions from the Board.”

Sources close to Johnson explained that his tardiness was due to medical reasons.

Hanoman, a veteran doctor and who served as Chairman of GPHC, says that one needs not be a doctor to effectively function as a hospital CEO but it is necessary that a person have knowledge of how hospitals function.

“One has to have knowledge of how a hospital functions. It is good to administer but you need someone with knowledge of how it functions,” he said.

“Normally when someone runs a hospital; that is the hospital administrator, normally they would have undergone training in special courses. In those courses different areas within hospital management are looked at so that when that comes up you have knowledge. Besides the financial aspect you have to be a good manager, a good team player to get the nurses and doctors and everyone together that is the function of the CEO,” he added.

Hanoman said that he believes key and most integral for the proper functionality and administration of the GPHC was that it have a board free from political interference.

“Let the Board do their thing for a change without interference,” he said. He added that he believes that Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, was giving the current Board that opportunity. “I think this minister is giving the board more leverage and that is how it is supposed to be. Let the board function and what evolves, evolves.”

It is faith in the Board, which appointed Lewis that Hanoman points to when he reasons that the new CEO should be given the opportunity to be tried and tested in managing the hospital’s affairs before judgement.

“They interviewed the persons so if they felt that this new recruit has the ability, let us see. The board must be allowed to function independently and I see that now.

Then you will know who to blame at the hospital. (It is) not Minister but the board has to function and look after everything in the interest of the hospital. I think the young girl (Alves) is trying, so give her a chance,” he said.

The former Chairman also had some advice for the developing of a better image of the GPHC.

“I think the Chairman, the Board and the CEO have to come together and do a proper strategic plan. The Board has to have a vision for the betterment of the hospital, the vision must be translated to the CEO to carry out the wishes of the Board without interference.”

He said that if Lewis needs assistance or advice he must know that his (Hanoman’s) door is always open and he promised to assist if needs be. “If they need advice from anywhere I am sure it will be given. I am open and have always been nationalistic. I hold no grudges I wish I had the opportunity to act independently (as GPHC Chairman) without being hampered by external forces,” Hanoman said.