Critical diagnosis
PM wants probes expedited after fatal equipment failures; report on overall health system submitted
Published:Tuesday | June 25, 2024 | 10:52 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) has been told to expedite investigations into the deaths of a newborn at May Pen Hospital in Clarendon and a woman at Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny after they were unable...
Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) has been told to expedite investigations into the deaths of a newborn at May Pen Hospital in Clarendon and a woman at Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny after they were unable to get access to critical equipment.
The premature newborn could not get access to a ventilator, while the elderly woman, Gloria Smith Paris, could not get access to a CT scan machine.
“No parent or child should have to grieve for their loved ones due to issues in our healthcare system. My administration will continue to work diligently to ensure that our healthcare system meets the needs of our citizens,” Holness said in a statement.
The prime minister, who instructed the health ministry last week to produce a report on the issues affecting the public health system, said he received a “comprehensive” report, which was also presented to Cabinet.
He had also called for a report on the number of ventilators in the system following The Gleaner’s report on the death of the infant.
The prime minister said the report to Cabinet also covered ongoing efforts to enhance the public health sector.
He said significant strides are being made in the health sector, with several new hospitals under development, enhanced equipment installed, and an increase in the number of specialist doctors.
Holness said a comprehensive audit of equipment was also presented to members of the Cabinet.
He said the health ministry’s leadership noted that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the country had approximately 35 ventilators.
Today, he said more than 120 ventilators have been acquired and deployed across the health sector, marking a substantial improvement in the country’s respiratory healthcare capacity.
Last week, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said there were 210 registered ventilators in the public health system.
He said 118 were working, 40 were out for repair or maintenance, and 52 were obsolete.
An internal audit from the ministry listed six as obsolete.
Holness said his Government is unwavering in its commitment to using all available resources to improve patient care for all Jamaicans and to address the areas of concern.
At the same time, Opposition Spokesperson on Health and Wellness Dr Alfred Dawes has called on the health ministry to confirm or deny reports that despite the 210 registered ventilators in the system, there are fewer than 40 adult intensive care unit (ICU) beds available islandwide.
Dawes said the ministry has skilfully avoided answering questions about the island’s ICU capacity.
“Before the pandemic, there were [fewer] than 35 proper ICU spaces, not counting makeshift recovery room spaces. According to reports, there are around 35 proper ICU spaces in the public health system. Why has the MoHW not included this information in their report?” Dawes questioned.
He said this failure to significantly upgrade Jamaica’s ICU capacity is a further testament to the lack of prioritisation of critical care by the ministry.
Dawes, a medical doctor, said with the massive injection of cash into the system seen during the pandemic, there is no valid reason the country should come out on the other side with fewer than 40 ICU beds for a population of just under three million residents and four million tourists visiting annually.
He said the lack of ICU beds delays critical surgeries such as neurosurgical procedures and complex cancer surgeries.
In addition, he said, countless trauma, stroke, septic and post-surgery patients have died awaiting ICU beds that never materialised.
“At any given time, there are several patients awaiting an ICU bed to give them a fighting chance at survival. As a result of the limited capacity, the staff have to make the heartrending decision of who gets to live. No patient, relative, friend or healthcare worker deserves this status quo,” said Dawes.
He said boasting about the largest numbers of ventilators ever means nothing if the infrastructure, staffing, and required equipment are not put in place to create sufficient critical care facilities islandwide.
He said the ministry must state clearly what Jamaica’s ICU capacity is and outline the steps being taken to boost it to meet the demands of the population.