KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Dawes, has expressed disappointment in the response of newly appointed Government Senator Dr Elon Thompson to what he has described as a “crisis” at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).

The crisis, triggered by mould infestation, he said has led to the closure of operating theatres and disrupted critical surgical care.

READ: Health system is in a ‘serious crisis’, says Dr Dawes

On Wednesday, Dr Thompson dismissed Dr Dawes’ comments as “unfortunate partisanship and clear opportunism”, stating that “His partisan rhetoric has no place when discussing matters concerning healthcare. I am advised that the operating theatre at the KPH will be back up in operation in short order.”

READ: Gov’t senator chides Dr Dawes for comments on the state of the healthcare system

Now, Dr Dawes, a colleague of Dr Thompson in the medical fraternity has criticised the senator for dismissing “legitimate concerns” about the deteriorating state of public healthcare services. He described Thompson’s stance as a “troubling example of how political pressures can distort professional judgment and erode public trust”.

“Elon and I didn’t enter this profession because it was easy or popular—we entered it because we believed in service, in putting people first, and in defending lives above all else,” said Dr Dawes. “That’s why it is disappointing to see someone with his reputation allow politics to cloud the clarity of that calling. This is bigger than party lines. It’s about people—patients who are dying while waiting on surgery, doctors and nurses working in unsafe conditions, and a public healthcare system that’s cracking under pressure.”

Acknowledging Senator Thompson’s long-standing respect in the medical field, Dr Dawes urged him not to let political considerations tarnish his hard-earned reputation.

“This appointment to the Senate was a tremendous opportunity for Elon—not just to add credibility to the Government’s narrative, but to rise above it. It was a chance to show that he answers to a higher calling: the well-being of the Jamaican people,” Dawes continued. “But if defending indefensible failures becomes the price of political involvement, he risks losing the very integrity that his patients and peers have long admired.”

The People’s National Party (PNP) spokesman further warned that the crisis at KPH is not an isolated issue but part of a broader collapse in Jamaica’s public health infrastructure. He pointed to severe consequences for trauma care, neurosurgery, ICU capacity, and the morale of healthcare workers.

“This is not just a hospital issue—it’s a national emergency. And if a medical professional in Senator Thompson’s position cannot see that, it may raise serious concerns not just among the public, but also among those he serves as a private practitioner.”

Dr Dawes suggested that if political obligations are forcing the senator to compromise his professional values, stepping away may be the more honourable course.

“If the pressure to toe the political line is too much, it would be better to walk away with your principles intact than to remain and lose the respect of the people who looked to you as a symbol of what medicine should represent,” he said.

The PNP spokesman further called for urgent, transparent and coordinated national action to restore trust in Jamaica’s health system. He urged all professionals, regardless of political alignment, to recommit to prioritising the well-being of the Jamaican people.