Union Calls For Jamaican PM’s Intervention In Public Health Sector Crisis

KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has been asked to intervene in the current public health sector crisis, that has invoked the wrath of members of the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA).

President of the United Union of Jamaica (UUJ), James Francis made the plea following concerns raised by JMDA president Dr. Alfred Dawes last week.

Dr. Dawes said, the public health system is on the brink of collapse with hospitals lacking equipment vital for surgeries, doctors and doctors working in sub-standard conditions that pose serious health risk to patients.

“We have flies in the operating theatre, we have to reuse single use instruments that aren’t disposed of, but are washed and placed in anti-bacterial solutions and used on other patients,” said the member of the JMCA.

“I am calling on the Minister of Health to rise up and do something,” said Francis.

I’m not calling for his removal yet, I am asking the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance to call an emergency meeting with (Health Minister) Dr. Fenton Ferguson, to get the matter sorted out.”

At a press conference over the weekend, Dr. Dawes brought to the fore the concerns of health professionals.

“There are operating theatres with mildew on the walls. To make matters worse, theatre doors should be closed to prevent bacteria from getting in and out, and we’re operating in theatres where doors can’t be closed, and are left open for the duration of the surgery.”

Dr. Dawes also said that he and other surgeons are forced to operate without proper surgical gowns, which result in patients’ blood soaking through onto their skin.

“I lost underwear when I was operating on a trauma victim, as a patient’s blood soaked through my surgical gown, because I was wearing a garbage bag instead of a surgical apron], which signals a lack of supplies,” he said.

He argued that if complications arise from the surgeries, the surgeon is liable, as surgeries should not be conducted under such conditions, and legal representation from the State is not guaranteed.