KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton says he will be presenting a report to Parliament outlining the progress made under the health sector’s Accountability Framework.

The 50-page report will detail the performance of 13 public bodies, assessed against at least 18 governance requirements, alongside patient feedback.

On June 19, the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with regional health authorities (RHAs) and other public health bodies to commence implementation of the comprehensive Accountability Framework. The initiative seeks to address administrative performance and accountability shortcomings across the public health sector.

The framework focuses on strengthening internal supervision, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and promoting institutional transparency. It also seeks to improve financial management and stewardship of public resources, requiring all RHAs to bring their financial statements and reports tabled in Parliament up to date within 12 months.

Additional priorities include human resource development, staff training, patient-centred care and service delivery, particularly the implementation of effective triage systems and improved patient empathy.

Speaking during the ministry’s sponsored programme “On the Pulse With Public Health”, aired on RJR 94 FM on November 6, the minister said that the report to be tabled in Parliament will identify institutions that are performing well and those requiring urgent intervention.

He noted that the assessment incorporates more than 1,000 complaints received during the quarter, examining their concentration across hospitals, departments and institutions, and combining those findings with the governance audit to rank public bodies.

The minister said the findings will inform targeted interventions, including technical support from a special team within the ministry’s policy unit to help institutions address governance gaps and develop programmes of corrective action.

An audit team will also examine leadership and management practices, assess compliance with established procedures and introduce corrective arrangements where necessary.

Dr Tufton said the report represents an important step towards greater transparency and institutional accountability, noting that persistent weaknesses must be addressed at the level of specific institutions, leadership and management.

He said that the exercise is intended to strengthen institutional performance, improve service delivery and ensure that public resources generate greater value for the health system.

— JIS