Opposition calls for independent audit of public health system
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Opposition spokesperson for Health, Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte is calling on the auditor general to conduct an audit of the Island’s public health system. She is also calling on Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson to update the country on those audits of the Regional Health Authorities, which he reportedly ordered many months ago.
In a press release Wednesday, Malahoo Forte said the calls have come amid numerous complaints about hospital mismanagement, severe shortage of supplies, broken equipment, and dispensing of outdated dugs by many Drug Serv pharmacies.
Malahoo Forte also added that the Princess Margaret Hospital located in the St Thomas Eastern Constituency represented by Minister Ferguson, is of particular concern.
“The independent audit is needed to assess what internal controls, financial and reporting systems are in place at Princess Margaret Hospital and other hospitals, whether they are adequate, how waste and inefficient use of taxpayers’ monies can be eliminated, and whether announced programmes are achieving their objectives at lower costs,” Malahoo Forte said. “We also need to know why expired drugs are being dispensed to patients and those patients are mandated to sign liability releases.”
“A government formed by the Jamaica Labour Party will work assiduously to ensure that Jamaica’s public health system is properly led, managed and appropriately resourced to deliver safe and effective health services,” she said.