Ministry of Health to Publish Quarterly Reports

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says the Ministry will publish reports quarterly on the performance of the health sector, in the interest of transparent and accountable governance.

Making his contribution to the 2017/18 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 3, Dr. Tufton said the report will be dubbed ‘Vitals’ and will provide information to groups or individuals who will require it.

“Importantly, also, it will act as a tool of performance accountability for the individuals and processes responsible for the delivery of public health,” he said, outlining that the first report is now available.

Dr. Tufton encouraged the media and other stakeholders to use the publication to get important vital statistics on public health and to use it to satisfy curiosity and for probing any other issue requiring further analysis.

“Public health is everybody’s business, whether good or bad news. We should never give the impression that we have anything to hide,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister hailed the work of doctors, nurses and midwives; dental staff; paramedical and allied health workers; and administrative and support staff for “performing very well (and) saving many lives in the process”.

The Minister singled out Nurse Davia Tucker and the staff at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston, who were instrumental in saving the lives of the children in the Intensive Care Unit, when an unexpected explosion resulted in a fire.