by ALBERT BRANDFORD

OPPOSITION LEADER DAVID THOMPSON says every department of health services in Barbados "is today in crisis".

He made the comment Sunday night in Oistins during the mass meeting launch of the Opposition Democratic Labour Party's (DLP) Christ Church South candidate, John Boyce.

Declaring that the word "failure" was written on any and everything associated with the public and political life of Boyce's opponent, incumbent MP Minister of Health Jerome Walcott, Thompson said as Prime Minister, one could not have the health sector grinding to a screeching halt "because you are afraid or unwilling to fire an incompetent minister".

"No health practitioner in Barbados has any confidence in the public health care system," he asserted.

"If anyone in this audience falls sick right now, a state of panic develops at the thought of that person having to be rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

"Board after board, director after director, strategy after strategy has been put in force and all is failing because of a lack of ministerial direction and relevance."

Sad state of affairs

Thompson charged that health as a ministerial portfolio had now been reduced to the direction and determination of junior public officers and contracted friends of Government officials.

"What type of Prime Minister would permit this sad state of affairs to continue?" he asked. "What type of Prime Minister would show interest in health only at the point of Cricket World Cup when an unfortunate incident could have embarrassed himself and all Barbados?

"I want the Prime Minister to tell the nation this week how many cases of professional malpractice have been brought against the QEH and other health services in recent years.

"I want the Prime Minister to tell the nation how much money was requested by the health care professionals to adequately and efficiently run the health services of Barbados, and how much he, as Minister of Finance, released for them to implement the programmes they have been outlining."

Thompson said he found it strange, even incredible, that a country that could afford to pump $40 million into a money-losing [Harrison's] cave, would so starve its health sector of money as to permit public confidence to plummet to an all-time low.

"This Government has pursued and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in dubious public sector projects," he charged, "but finds it difficult to come up with a sustainable programme for rescuing and upgrading the health services in Barbados.

"This is not a matter for the DLP alone. Our members and supporters are not the only persons at risk. Family and friends of Labour Party supporters are suffering and dying every day at the QEH, and the Government of the day cannot be absolved of all blame."

Please see also Pages 6 and 7.