Major hospitals and health centres audit results next week

The Ministry of Health says it will next week tell the country the results of an audit of major hospitals and health centres.

The ministry says details will be shared by Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson, at a press conference on Wednesday, September 2.

Ferguson had ordered the audit in May following complaints by the Jamaica Medical Doctors' Association (JMDA) about inadequate supplies at health facilities.

The JMDA had said that the lack of supplies and proper equipment was hampering the delivery of healthcare in the public sector.

At a press conference in May the JMDA revealed some of the glaring deficiencies in the public health system.

The association said that doctors have had to wear garbage bags instead of surgical aprons in operating theatres to protect themselves because of an absence of supplies.

It further said in the absence of standard medical masks doctors have had no option but to use Ebola masks that they have been given to do their work.

The JMDA also complained about malfunctioning theatre lights and inadequate medical tubes to drain blood.