Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter
Spurred by numerous complaints and overwhelming proof, the Government has launched a covert surveillance into the ill treatment of patients at hospitals and health centres in a bid to curb the many unfortunate incidents.
Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Carlton Davis, made the revelation at the National Indoor Sports Centre while addressing public sector's workers from the ministry and agencies under the portfolio of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.
The chief civil servant, who was addressing public sector workers at a function dubbed 'The Most Honourable Prime Minister's Staff Meeting', said too often health sector workers mistreat their patients.
"There is too much evidence of callous treatment of people, maybe it is that some people are weary, tired and overwhelmed because of the high incidence of crime among us but there is also a certain lack of care," Dr. Davis said.
Breaking the law
Recently, in a Gleaner exclusive it was revealed that a multimillion-dollar government-commissioned report on the performance of the health sector stated that several financially-strapped hospitals and clinics were breaking the law by overcharging their patients. The Health Ministry responded the same day by announcing that it was dispatching a team of auditors to probe the affairs of the Kingston Public Hospital and the Victoria Jubilee Hospital. The Auditor-General, Adrian Strachan, was also summoned to probe the books of all hospitals.
Now, it seems the Office of the Prime Minister, Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Health are combining their efforts on this undercover operation. However, it was not stated specifically what punitive measures would be levied against health professionals found wanting in balance.
Dr. Davis disclosed that the Ministry of Health would be conducting a survey of public attitudes to ascertain how people feel about going to hospitals and health centres. On the other hand, the Cabinet Office is conducting the covert aspect of the surveillance.
"At the same time, certain people are now going on the road. Somebody from the Cabinet Office will actually be sitting in some of these centres for hours to just watch what is going on and report back (and) it will be fed back into the system," Dr. Davis said. He added: "We are determined to make the hospital service in Jamaica one service which responds to the needs of the poor."
At the same time, other public sector workers also received a stern warning from Prime Minister Simpson Miller about the manner in which they serve the public. "We have to bear in mind that we have a citizen's charter and we ought to adhere to that - all agencies, every one," she declared.
Treatment
Mrs. Simpson Miller added that the workers should treat the public the same way they desired to be treated.
"We do not know if the people that come before us, whether they are young or old, if they are wearing bags. We do not know their medical conditions so when we keep them long, they, could be hurting and taking years off their lives."
"We, as public servants, need to be mindful of that and be mindful of why we accepted the jobs we are in. We accepted it to serve the Jamaican people and we must serve them with dignity and pride and we must be aware (that) some of us are just one step away from where they are," she added.
The Prime Minister, who delivered a people centric address to the workers at the staff meeting, reminded the civil servants that people are the reason why all public sector workers - including herself - are gainfully employed.
"The most important person in this country is not me it is the Jamaican people. The Jamaican people insisted that I become Prime Minister (and) they can also remove me. And, guess what, because I don't want them to remove me I am going to do everything that is possible to make them know thatÉ what I do is in their interest," she said.
