Shadow Minister on Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Dawes has expressed deep concern following revelations that approximately J$75 million raised in 2023 for the paediatric ward at the University Hospital of the West Indies may have been diverted from its stated purpose without consultation with the hospital’s Paediatric department.

The funds were raised through the 2023 Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run, widely promoted as supporting the long-awaited development of a permanent paediatric facility at UHWI. Public reports at the time indicated that the event raised J$91 million, with approximately J$75 million earmarked specifically for the Paediatric Unit’s new building, a project critical to improving care for Jamaica’s most vulnerable patients.

“These revelations are troubling and deeply concerning,” said Dr Dawes in a press release. “Funds raised in the name of sick children, with the goodwill of thousands of Jamaicans, athletes and corporate partners, must be used strictly for the purpose promised. Any deviation from that commitment demands immediate and full explanation.”

Dr Dawes noted that the UHWI Paediatric Unit plays a vital national role, providing specialist care, life-saving treatment, and support for children with complex and chronic illnesses. Delays or uncertainty around funding for infrastructure and equipment directly affect patient outcomes and place additional strain on already overstretched healthcare professionals, he said.

“In the context of recent Auditor General findings which have highlighted weaknesses in public financial management, transparency is not optional, it is essential,” Dr Dawes added. “The public deserves clarity on whether these funds were diverted, reallocated, or fully applied to the intended paediatric project, and under whose authority any such decisions were made.”

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He has called on the UHWI administration to urgently provide a detailed public accounting of the funds, including how much has been spent, on what, and what remains outstanding.

“Our children cannot afford silence or ambiguity. Accountability in healthcare financing is fundamental to trust, integrity, and the future of Jamaica’s public health system,” Dr Dawes said.