A call has been made for a review of the governance arrangement between the health ministry and the University Hospital of the West Indies. 

This after Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry Errol Greene revealed that no report is sent to him, from the hospital.

The matter was raised at yesterday’s meeting of Parliaments Public Accounts Committee, at which representatives of the UHWI and the ministry were drilled about some controversial procurements.

The hospital had used its tax exemption status to facilitate the importation of goods on behalf of private companies.

A report from the Auditor General pointed to millions of dollars in losses due to the practice.

In light of the situation, the PS was asked about oversight of the hospital by the ministry. 

Committee Chairman Julian Robinson was alarmed at the revelation that the Permanent Secretary has not received any report from the UHWI.

He said this made the ministry a sitting duck, because it is unaware of what’s happening at the hospital, therefore exposed to risks. 

Robinson said if the health ministry got reports from the UHWI, the procurement breaches would have been identified and fixed long ago.