KINGSTON, Jamaica – Newly appointed Health Minister Horace Dalley said he is undaunted by the challenges posed by his ministry, and will be holding people within the health sector accountable for their actions.

“I am not daunted by the challenges that we have. In fact, I am energised and optimistic because we have the skills in the system, we have the people who want to work, we have the people who are willing to work and help, but each person, each department must be held accountable. You have to do what you are paid to do,” Dally said.

“I hold Dr Bruce accountable for what goes on at University Hospital. I hold me accountable; I hold the regional health authorities accountable; I hold every SMO (senior medical officer) and their team accountable in the hospital. If you need policy directives, you come to the ministry,” the minister said during his address at the contract-signing for the health sector development plan at Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston today.

“None of us at head office can sit in office. We go on tours and we share and we greet with people, but we don’t know that who is in charge of ensuring (the) operating theatre team that is to clean and sterilise that theatre that they are following the correct protocol,” he said. “The minister cannot know, the CMO (chief medical officer) cannot know that; it is at the base where you are.”

According to Dalley, he will be reviewing the reporting relationship with the regional health authorities and the University Hospital of the West Indies and will be signing an administrative order, instructing that the health authorities and UHWI report to the ministry in a timely manner.

The minister said he will also be holding the health authorities accountable for implementing the corrective measures documented by the Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) team.

Tanesha Mundle