Minister of Health and the Environment, Rudyard Spencer, says a review organised for the Regional Health Authorities (RHA) was not to dismantle the organisation but to examine and evaluate the structure and operation of the health service.

"After 10 years of operation it would be crucial to do a review to inform if (there is) need to strengthen or otherwise what is out there," Mr. Spencer told a post-Cabinet media briefing held at Jamaica House earlier this week.

five weeks

A five-member committee was named yesterday to review the authority. The team is expected to complete its review in five weeks.

The members of the task force committee are Dr. Winston Davidson, chairman; Daisy Cooke, actuary at Cooke and Associates; Fabian Brown, chief executive officer at St. Joseph's Hospital; Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester, chief medical officer in the Ministry of Health; and Thelma E. Campbell, past chief nursing officer.

The task force will review and evaluate the RHAs and make recommendations for the changes needed in the policy, organisation, structure, function, manpower, supplies and financing of the authorities.