Dr Hanoman is Govt’s frontrunner for GPHC Chairmanship – Dr George Norton

Former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) parliamentarian, Dr Max Hanoman is tipped to become the new Chairman of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Board of Directors.

This was confirmed by Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton on Sunday, who stated that the Government has identified Hanoman as its frontrunner for the position though, he added, the decision was not final.

Dr Noel Blackman, who was appointed Chairman of the GPHC on December 31, 2015, was recently arrested and charged in the United States for illegally writing a large number of prescriptions for a narcotic-based painkiller.

Following the arrest, Dr Norton had publicly declared that he was “disappointed” that the newly-appointed GPHC Chairman has been arrested and charged with illegally issuing prescriptions for a powerful painkiller in New York.

The New York Newsday reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) suspected that Dr Blackman was illegally prescribing vast amounts of oxycodone – 365,000 pills in 2015 – in a drug-dealing enterprise spanning three states. Oxycodone is a narcotic-based medication used to treat moderate to severe pain and can be habit forming even at regular doses.

According to the Newsday, FBI agents took Blackman, 68, into custody after they ordered a Guyana-bound jet taxiing for takeoff with him on board at the John F Kennedy Airport, to return to the terminal.

Dr Blackman, who was under investigation for several weeks, was intent on permanently leaving the United States, according to a tip agents received before they headed him off at the Airport. After the plane returned to the terminal around midnight on Sunday, Dr Blackman was arrested and later charged with conspiracy to distribute the narcotic.

Reports are according to his prescription records checked by federal authorities, the 365,000 Oxycodone pills came from 2487 prescriptions – a marked increase from the 114 he wrote for 3800 pills in 2014 and 63 written in 2013 for 2100 pills.

The Newsday also reported that federal agents with Homeland Security investigators also found US$30,000 in cash stashed in Blackman’s luggage.

Dr Blackman was a Health Minister under the People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration.

According to the Official Gazette of December 23, 2015, “Dr Blackman will perform the responsibilities as GPHC Chairman for the period of one year, effective December 1, 2015 to November 30, 2016”.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament on Tuesday, Public Health Minister Norton said he was “very disappointed” by the actions of the newly appointed GPHC Chairman and steps were being taken to replace Dr Blackman on the medical institution’s Board.

Dr Norton noted also that although Dr Blackman has been charged, he has not been proven guilty.

The PNC stalwart is a registered vascular surgeon in the City of New York and also an Executive Board Member at the World Health Organisation (WHO). Dr Blackman completed his undergraduate studies at Howard University before pursuing his Doctorate of Medicine at Hahnemann University Medical School.

Meanwhile, Dr Hanoman, also a PNC stalwart, is the former Medical Director of the University of Guyana’s School of Medicine and currently operates the Dr Max Hanoman Medical Centre.