SPEAKER, AS MINISTER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR, I AM COMMITTED TO WORK WITH ALL GROUPS AND AGENCIES IN THE SPIRIT OF DEVELOPING THE BEST POSSIBLE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR JAMAICA. WE ARE NOT AGAINST CRITICISM AND WE WELCOME SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL LEAD TO IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM AND BETTER DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE.
HOWEVER WE DO NOT CONDONE PERSONAL ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CLAIMS BEING MADE AND AS SUCH I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECONFIRM MY CONFIDENCE IN THE SUPPORT CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED BY MY PERMANENT SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH.
MR SPEAKER, I AM AWARE THAT IN A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH ALL THE MEDICAL GROUPS INCLUDING THE JAMAICA MEDICAL DOCTORS ASSOCIATION, THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF JAMAICA AND ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE JMDA ISSUED A PERSONAL APOLOGY TO DR. KEVIN HARVEY, PERMANENT SECRETARY AND HAS COMMITTED TO DOING SO PUBLICLY TODAY.
MR SPEAKER, I WANT TO REAFFIRM THAT I STAND COMMITTED TO WORK WITH ALL THE PROFESSIONAL GROUPS WITHIN THE HEALTH SECTOR AND I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE DOCTORS AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL GROUPS AS WELL AS OTHER SECTORS TO ENSURE THAT ANY PLAN WE DEVELOP WILL BE DONE WITH THE INPUT OF THOSE WORKING IN THE SECTOR AS WELL AS OUR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TEAM SUCH AS PAHO, WHO AND OTHERS.
MR SPEAKER, I HAVE ALREADY ASKED THE CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARDS OF THE REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT OF THEIR MAJOR HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CENTRES TO DETERMINE THE AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLIES AND THE CHALLENGES BEING FACED IN ENSURING ADEQUATE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, THE RESULT OF WHICH WILL BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR PHARMACEUTICALS AND SUNDRIES IN THIS FISCAL YEAR’S BUDGET.
MR SPEAKER, THE TASKFORCE ESTABLISHED TO EXAMINE THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL CARE INCLUDING THE WAY OUR DOCTORS PRACTICE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RE-ENGAGEMENT OF THE JMDA IN THIS PROCESS.
IN THE MEANTINE, MR SPEAKER, THERE WILL BE NO IMPLEMENTATION OF A SHIFT SYSTEM UNTIL WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE.