K.H.M.H. Terminates Doctor Amin Hegar

Not far away from the B.C.V.I. is the national referral hospital, where eye treatment is also on the chopping block.  Ophthalmologist, Doctor Amin Hegar’s contract with the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital was abruptly terminated a few days. The veteran ‘eye doctor’ has treated thousands of persons over the more than twenty years that he has been offering his services at the K.H.M.H.  But on May fifteenth, Doctor Hegar was verbally informed that his services are no longer needed. He was not a permanent member of the staff; and was the only specialized doctor in that field that was under contract at the K.H.M.H.  With him now gone, the K.H.M.H. is left without an ophthalmologist. According to Doctor Hegar, he was told that his termination was due to financial challenges at the K.H.M.H. 

Amin Hegar

Dr. Amin Hegar, Ophthalmologist

“It was the fifteenth last Friday I was informed by the chief of medical officers that that day was my last day. I then reconfirmed it with the C.E.O. I think and she said the same that my services are not necessary, that they are not needed anymore. I asked her why. Well, I say that maybe because of finances. They don’t have money to pay to the doctors.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Would you agree that not needed and not being able to pay for it isn’t the same thing?”

Dr. Amin Hegar

“Well, I don’t know who made the decision that I am not need but we know that the people need services. I had the contract to do call allowances, to do the emergencies and also consultations in the hospitals where patients are admitted. Doctors and other specialists call me to give my opinion on the diagnosis. But of course it is needed because if you go to the hospital and you have an acute glaucoma and the general doctor cannot diagnosis you go blind, a part from the injuries from the job. And the thing is the majority of the people; the poor people especially are the ones that suffer. We are needed. Of course we need an ophthalmologist. You see it is from all over. We have too many diabetics also in Belize, fifty thousand diabetics. You tell me you don’t need it and diabetes affects the eyes. It is their decision and we have to respect the decision of the government. I know they are short of funds everywhere but I haven’t heard they firing other people from other departments yet. I think the medical sector is the first to be affected.”