A section of the Kingston Public Hospital.Erica Virtue, Staff Reporter
Hospitals across the island are reportedly ailing from a long-standing bout of indebtedness which is threatening services offered to patients.
Some officials say the situation is becoming more widespread and there is concern that it may worsen.
General secretary of Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers (JALGO) Helene Davis-White said information reaching her union was that medication was in short supply and there was no money to pay for more.
Mrs. Davis-White, whose union represents several workers at hospitals and health centres, say there is a shortage of basic supplies.
"The reports we have is that all the regional health authorities are having severe funding problems. And we understand that it is particularly bad in the South East Region, Corporate Area, St. Catherine and St. Thomas," she said Friday.
Speaking from Clarendon, she said, "I know that some creditors refused to deliver some basic medical supplies because they were not getting paid promptly. What we have heard from time to time is that Government's contribution has been short and that also has a rippling effect," she said.
But chief executive officer of the Southern Region Health Authority, Fay Petgrave, said creditors were making demands, but were not threatening.
"I will admit that we have a very bad deficit in this region. I won't speak for my colleagues, but I think you will find that all or most have a deficit. But we have built up a relationship with most of our suppliers and we have arrangements with them to allow us to keep most of the essential supplies going, so that we can continue to provide adequate health service," Mrs. Petgrave said Friday.
According to her, "the situation is not getting any better and I'm concerned."
Among the services provided are food, utilities, pharmaceuticals, maintenance, spare parts, medical gasses and toiletries. Health authorities are given an annual budget which must be supplemented by service fees.
At least 80 per cent of the Government's contribution is for salaries for 3,000 employees at the five hospitals and 87 health centres in Manchester, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth.
She said, cutting services is not an option the hospital would like to pursue but she said it was very difficult to continue at this rate.
Chief executive officer of the North Eastern Regional Health Authority Owen Belvett said his hospital's was doing well.
"I am not having problems with my creditors at all," he said.
Parishes and health centres covered are those in St. Mary, St. Ann and Portland.
Dr. Shelia Campbell-Forrester, chief executive officer of the Western Regional Health Authority, said her hospital was also in fair condition.
"My creditors are not bawling," she said Friday.
She explained that two amnesties were offered last year to patients who had outstanding bills. The first attempt was said to be successful but she was still pleading with debtors settle.
Public relations spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Rosemarie Bradford-Lee, said the health regions are given an annual sum from the Ministry's budget, and are expected to supplement with fees collected.
"It is a double edged sword. The hospitals cannot turn patients away because of an inability to pay. But when they do not pay if affects everything," she said.
Repeated attempts to reach executive chairman of the South East Regional Health Authority Dr. Barry Wint and CEO Paola Arscott were unsuccessful last week. Both were said to be out of office on several occasions.
