NO FIRING FIX

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton says the removal of individual heads at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) will do little to cure a “dysfunctional culture” that has metastasised within the institution for decades.

His comment comes amid an unfolding scandal at the teaching hospital triggered by the findings of a report from the Auditor General’s Department.

Speaking to The Gleaner on Wednesday, Tufton noted that even the most “well-credentialed” boards appointed to govern the hospital have historically succumbed to a normalisation of what Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis’ report identified as irregularities.

“I think a lot of the debate that is taking place, focusing on individuals, individual entities, while important to correct, is also missing a bigger point, which is that these are issues that have long legacies and points more to a root challenge of a dysfunctional culture within the university system,” Tufton said.

The special audit report from Monroe Ellis revealed that the UHWI awarded $521 million in contracts despite failing to provide essential procurement documentation.

It further highlighted systemic breaches of government guidelines, including unapproved contract variations and missing records.

The audit also exposed systemic breaches, including after-the-fact bidding and the misuse of tax exemptions for private entities.

The findings sparked concerns over accountability and potential financial mismanagement at tje UHWI, prompting Tufton to appoint a review committee.

Four companies – JACDEN Group of Companies (JACDEN Limited), Supreme Laundry Services, Scientific Medical Services, and Willman Sales Company Limited – were fingered as having benefitted from the UHWI’s tax-exemption status.

JACDEN’s CEO, Dennis Gordon, an opposition member of parliament, has faced growing pressure to resign, following the revelation.

On Wednesday, Tufton said the issues identified go beyond personalities.

“To my mind, some of the bigger issues that have to be addressed are less about the personalities – as important as those need to be – and the board, I think, is taking action, where necessary, and the interim manager.

“However, more substantially, it’s about addressing the root issues, which is the culture of an institution, that over extended periods of time and I would be prepared to say dating back beyond this administration. Even with successive boards that are well credentialed … even with those extremely well-credentialed individuals, there seem to have been a normalisation of that culture over time, which seem to have accepted some of these activities,” the minister said.

He said that fixing the issues would amount to “more than just changing personalities as important as that is”.

Tufton said that while to some extent it is about leadership, it is also about changing a culture.

He said the report’s findings present an opportunity to protect the vital teaching institution by correcting its dysfunctional culture.

He said the strategic committee, chaired by Howard Mitchell, is expected to make recommendations looking at the configuration and organisation of the University Hospital within the wider university system.

Tufton said the committee’s mandate is to determine the changes necessary to facilitate a long-lasting and fundamental solution aimed at changing what he considers to be a dysfunctional culture while protecting both the institution’s mandate and the taxpayers of Jamaica.

“That’s what I look forward to. When that report is available, it will remain public, and that’s when I am prepared to speak more substantially as to what the decision is, and I certainly intend to also, before doing all of that, brief the Cabinet and get their support,” Tufton said.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com