ON MAY 6, 2010, just before the general election, minister of health Jerry Narace announced the construction of two full-service renal dialysis centres. It never happened.

On September 2, 2015, just before the election, minister of health Dr Fuad Khan turned the sod for the same project, which involved sites at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) and the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH). It never happened.

This week, as MPs went on their fixed recess ahead of the home stretch to the next election, it emerged this same project is not only mired in delay. It is subject to a disappointing legal battle.

The case involves Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the North Central Regional Health Authority, private contractors and a group of patients. It is headed to the Privy Council. Who knows when London will rule?

It is a national tragedy that a project with a potential to benefit at least 1,200 sick people on a weekly basis has seen so much kuchoor.

All manner of confusion arose from day one, according to the dispiriting statement of facts set out earlier this year by the Court of Appeal.

Bureaucratic delays, drafting slip-ups, tedious contract term negotiations and renegotiations, meetings upon meetings involving contractors and government officials, seemingly broken promises about paperwork – if this was meant to be a shining example of the possibilities of public-private partnerships, it now stands as a nightmare case study.

What a crying shame.

There is a huge demand for dialysis. Some say there are at least 1,600 patients today and that figure is set to grow.

While plans for the $140 million centres languish, in the past five years the State has had to fork out approximately $450 million to help people cover the cost of treatment at private facilities.

According to Ministry of Finance documents, $160.4 million was set aside in this year’s budget. In 2023, $70 million was spent. The figure was $89 million in 2022, $93.5 million in 2021 and $40 million in 2020.

There are dozens of dialysis machines at public hospitals. Over the years, dozens more have been added.

But given that some patients require multiple hours of treatment and multiple sessions per week, that’s a drop in the bucket.

And we have not even begun to address the situation in Tobago, where a few years ago officials bemoaned the shortage is so dire it will only be improved if patients die.

This case, brought by a group representing kidney patients, should have never reached court.

Nobody should have to file litigation – whether contractual or constitutional – to ensure the State provides basic care.

But then again, with an election looming, maybe that is about to change?

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