Errol Greene to lead reform at UHWI

Errol Greene has been appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), effective Tuesday, October 20.

The UHWI, in a statement today, said Greene brings a wealth of experience in public-sector leadership, healthcare administration and institutional management.

It noted that he previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Regional Director of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) and the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), and Chief Executive Officer of Kingston Public Hospital, and that he brings extensive knowledge and expertise to this role.

The hospital said his appointment comes at an important time for the UHWI as the institution continues its commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery, operational efficiency and excellence in patient care.

“We encourage all members of staff to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Greene and offer their full cooperation and support as he assumes his responsibilities. We look forward to working together under his leadership to advance the UHWI's mission of providing quality healthcare, supporting medical education and serving the people of Jamaica.”

Meanwhile, in a separate release today, the Ministry of Health and Wellness reported that, effective Tuesday, October 20, Greene had assumed the role of Reform Implementation Executive at UHWI.

The Ministry said in this role Greene would build and oversee a project management office to drive the hospital’s upcoming rehabilitation project.

His appointment comes in the wake of a damning December 2025 report by Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis, who flagged numerous breaches in the institution’s governance.

The Ministry said he would lead the implementation of the Auditor General’s recommendations, as well as those of the UHWI Institutional Review Committee.

The Howard Mitchell-led committee released its report in April of this year.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton described Greene’s appointment as “an important step in strengthening accountability, improving operational efficiency and ensuring the effective implementation of the hospital’s rehabilitation project.”

“We are confident that Mr. Greene’s leadership and institutional knowledge will help to drive the necessary changes to support improved governance, strengthen service delivery and position UHWI to better serve the people of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean,” Tufton added.

Prior to his sojourn in public health, Greene served as Town Clerk of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation and served at the St Thomas Municipal Corporation.

Greene is a Justice of the Peace and a past recipient of the Governor General’s Achievement Award.

Chairman of the UHWI Board of Management, Patrick Hylton, noted that “the Board recognises the importance of strong leadership, sound governance and decisive action at this critical juncture in the hospital’s development.”

According to him, Greene’s considerable experience in public-sector management and healthcare administration will be invaluable in advancing the reform programme and addressing the recommendations arising from the relevant reviews.

Hylton said he was looking forward to working with Greene and the hospital to strengthen “institutional accountability, improve operational effectiveness and ensure that UHWI continues to deliver quality healthcare to the people of Jamaica and the wider region.”

Among other things, Monroe Ellis had revealed that UHWI misused its government tax-exempt status to import goods for private companies.

The report also flagged a total breakdown in transparency, noting that UHWI could not provide any procurement documentation for 51 contracts valued at over $521 million, making it impossible to determine if the public got value for its money.

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