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Controversy is deepening at the National Health Fund (NHF) in the wake of news that Chief Executive Officer Rae Barrett has been fired.
RJR News understands that Mr. Barrett was officially informed of his dismissal late Sunday.
His firing comes on the heels of reports that all is not well at the state-run entity.
The reported dismissal of Mr. Barrett also comes two weeks after the sudden resignation of Ryland Campbell as Chairman of the NHF.
News came last Friday that the Board had lost confidence in Mr. Barrett and had asked for his resignation.
He reportedly resisted.
The Board of the NHF was scheduled to hammer out a formula over the weekend to help clear the way for a formal announcement of the separation of Mr. Barrett from the NHF.
OCG & AG to probe NHF operations
In the meantime, Health Minister Ruddy Spencer is to meet with employees of the NHF Monday morning to advise them on the way forward.
Mr. Spencer is expected to appoint a new Chairman this week.
The Health Ministry has so far failed to divulge information on the circumstances that led to Mr. Campbell's departure.
In a statement on Friday, the Ministry said the Auditor-General and the Contractor-General have been called in to probe the operations of the NHF.
On Sunday, Contractor-General Greg Christie told the RJR News Centre that his office is preparing to begin its investigations.
The two oversight authorities are to review the investment and procurement policies of the Fund.
NHF's future
Mr. Spencer summoned members of the board to an emergency meeting last Friday to discuss the organization's future direction following the abrupt resignation of the Chairman.
Mr. Campbell handed in his resignation as NHF Chairman on October 18.
He had served as head of the Board since the Fund was established in April 2003.
The National Health Fund was formed to provide financial support to the national health care system.
It also conducts an intensive public information programme on chronic illness prevention and management.
The Fund is financed in part by a tax on tobacco products.
Chairman's departure is a great loss - Ferguson
And the Parliamentary Opposition says it is extremely concerned about developments at the NHF.
Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson says he is particularly concerned about Mr. Campbell's resignation.
Dr. Ferguson says Mr. Campbell's departure is a great loss as he had supervised the Fund's growth and played a critical role in expanding health programmes such as "Drugs for the Elderly".
"You know I think Jamaica knows of his record in the corporate world and by his own record, he is highly respected person and his own work and worth is well known ...if you were to examine his record with the NHF which was established five years ago, you would see the tremendous work that had been done in terms of projects," he said.
Instability will impact quality of care
According to Dr. Ferguson, the problems at the NHF could have implications for the free health care system implemented earlier this year.
"It was also been contemplated that they would play a much greater role in terms of the pharmaceutical side of the Ministry's free health care regime, taking over from Health Corporation Limited ... so it has far reaching implication," he said.
Dr. Fergusons added that this development will also impact in the health services and the delivery of quality health care.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/12731/26/
RJR News understands that Mr. Barrett was officially informed of his dismissal late Sunday.
His firing comes on the heels of reports that all is not well at the state-run entity.
The reported dismissal of Mr. Barrett also comes two weeks after the sudden resignation of Ryland Campbell as Chairman of the NHF.
News came last Friday that the Board had lost confidence in Mr. Barrett and had asked for his resignation.
He reportedly resisted.
The Board of the NHF was scheduled to hammer out a formula over the weekend to help clear the way for a formal announcement of the separation of Mr. Barrett from the NHF.
OCG & AG to probe NHF operations
In the meantime, Health Minister Ruddy Spencer is to meet with employees of the NHF Monday morning to advise them on the way forward.
Mr. Spencer is expected to appoint a new Chairman this week.
The Health Ministry has so far failed to divulge information on the circumstances that led to Mr. Campbell's departure.
In a statement on Friday, the Ministry said the Auditor-General and the Contractor-General have been called in to probe the operations of the NHF.
On Sunday, Contractor-General Greg Christie told the RJR News Centre that his office is preparing to begin its investigations.
The two oversight authorities are to review the investment and procurement policies of the Fund.
NHF's future
Mr. Spencer summoned members of the board to an emergency meeting last Friday to discuss the organization's future direction following the abrupt resignation of the Chairman.
Mr. Campbell handed in his resignation as NHF Chairman on October 18.
He had served as head of the Board since the Fund was established in April 2003.
The National Health Fund was formed to provide financial support to the national health care system.
It also conducts an intensive public information programme on chronic illness prevention and management.
The Fund is financed in part by a tax on tobacco products.
Chairman's departure is a great loss - Ferguson
And the Parliamentary Opposition says it is extremely concerned about developments at the NHF.
Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson says he is particularly concerned about Mr. Campbell's resignation.
Dr. Ferguson says Mr. Campbell's departure is a great loss as he had supervised the Fund's growth and played a critical role in expanding health programmes such as "Drugs for the Elderly".
"You know I think Jamaica knows of his record in the corporate world and by his own record, he is highly respected person and his own work and worth is well known ...if you were to examine his record with the NHF which was established five years ago, you would see the tremendous work that had been done in terms of projects," he said.
Instability will impact quality of care
According to Dr. Ferguson, the problems at the NHF could have implications for the free health care system implemented earlier this year.
"It was also been contemplated that they would play a much greater role in terms of the pharmaceutical side of the Ministry's free health care regime, taking over from Health Corporation Limited ... so it has far reaching implication," he said.
Dr. Fergusons added that this development will also impact in the health services and the delivery of quality health care.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/12731/26/