Cabinet to get update Monday on issues in health sector

   

Ministry of Health officials are to update the Cabinet on Monday on the state of the sector, in light of concerns raised in the public domain about two deaths, one of them a newborn.

 

In the case of the newborn, the unavailability of a ventilator at May Pen Hospital and staff shortage at the nearby Mandeville Regional Hospital are being blamed for her death.

 

In the other incident, the family of a woman has complained that negligence led to her death at Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny.

 

Addressing Wednesday morning's post Cabinet media briefing, Information Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon said Prime Minister Andrew Holness was "moved" by the deaths and takes the issues seriously. 

 

"He has asked the...leadership of the Ministry of Health, to come to Cabinet next week to explain the circumstances around those situations, plus also to generally discuss issues in the sector and also patient care. They will be coming on Monday next week to Cabinet. This is how strongly the Prime Minister and the Cabinet views these issues," she insisted. 

 

Dr. Morris Dixon said she will report on the outcome of those discussions at next Wednesday's post Cabinet press briefing.