OPPOSITION Spokesperson for Health Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte has called on the auditor general to conduct an audit of the Island’s public health system.

At the same time, she has urged the health minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson, to update the country on audits of Regional Health Authorities, which he reportedly ordered several months ago. The calls have come amid numerous complaints about hospital mismanagement, severe shortage of supplies, broken equipment and the alleged dispensing of outdated drugs by some Drug Serv pharmacies.

Senator Malahoo Forte said the Princess Margaret Hospital, located in the St Thomas Eastern constituency represented by Minister Ferguson, is of particular concern.

“On the heels of that hospital’s 60th anniversary, staff and other stakeholders have expressed grave discomfort that the hospital’s management committee is chaired by a leading PNP activist and contractor,” Malahoo Forte said.

“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. We also need to know why expired drugs are being dispensed to patients and those patients are mandated to sign liability releases,” said Malahoo Forte.

She promised that a Government formed by the Jamaica Labour Party would work assiduously to ensure that the public health system is properly led, managed and appropriately resourced to deliver safe and effective health services.