%202021_edited_edited.jpg)
The phrase "disgusting innocence" captures a paradox where intentions, though seemingly pure, lead to odious consequences that cannot escape scrutiny. Nowhere is this more evident than in Jamaica's health sector under Dr. Christopher Tufton. His near-decade of stewardship has seen bold construction projects yet persistent failures, leaving Jamaicans caught in a precarious balance between hope and despair.
Take, for instance, the repair of Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) and the upgrade of Falmouth Hospital. Both projects have been plagued by cost overruns, delays, and logistical missteps. Despite millions of dollars in investments, CRH remains unfinished after more than seven years of work, a fact that has understandably shaken public trust. The upgrade of Falmouth Hospital has also been marred by opacity, leaving many to question whether these ventures represent transformation or mismanagement.
When addressing these issues, Tufton often cloaks his responses in Shakespearean platitudes such as “all’s well that ends well” or “it was well worth the wait.” Such remarks might resonate as poetic to some, but they fall flat when weighed against the suffering endured by those who bore the brunt of these delays—or worse, those who perished due to systemic failings. One expects more empathy from a health minister, especially one who carries the title of "Doctor". Yet Tufton’s professional roots in marketing perhaps explain his tone, which often prioritises spin over substance.
The Real Cost of Waiting
Behind Tufton’s dismissals lies a grim reality. Delays in completing health facilities exacerbate Jamaica’s notorious reliance on long-distance ambulance transportation. Patients often endure hours-long journeys over poorly maintained rural roads, desperately seeking the care only available at Type A facilities. These treks not only jeopardise lives but also reflect a deeper systemic failure to provide equitable access to quality healthcare.
Imagine the plight of someone from a remote parish needing emergency care, forced to travel miles of potholed roads to reach a Type A facility in Kingston or Montego Bay. For many, this "wait" is not merely an inconvenience—it is a death sentence. Infrastructure improvements, while celebrated, mean little if they fail to address such fundamental disparities in access and care.
Dr. Tufton’s overgrown boy’s ideas about health facility construction might be fine if those buildings are properly equipped with functioning medical equipment that is kept in working order through adequate preventative management and maintenance in the public sector.
Infrastructure vs. Impact
Dr. Tufton frequently touts the government’s heavy investments in healthcare infrastructure, including groundbreaking ceremonies and ribbon-cutting events. The new Spanish Town Hospital and similar projects symbolise his administration’s commitment to modernisation. But critics argue that these initiatives prioritise optics over outcomes, as the quality of patient care often lags behind the glossy press releases.
For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, millions were allocated to expand ICU capacity and acquire ventilators. Yet today, Jamaica’s ICU capacity remains stagnant, raising questions about where those resources went. Similarly, there has been little progress in addressing chronic disease management or early cancer detection, despite significant increases in the health budget.
Empathy and Accountability
As I review this article before submission, I have been reading recent columns by senior physicians such as Dr. Garth Rattray, Dr. Michael Abrahams, and Dr. Alfred Dawes. I also listen keenly to my doctoring friends, my KC Dr.classmates, and my past A-QuEST Dr. princelings. What they are all saying is summed up, in one way or another, by Dr. Abrahams' 'tearful' report this morning, which reads in part:
"I do not know why little Anna-Shay (Campbell) died, and I offer my sincere condolences to her family and other loved ones at this time. What I do know is that too many pregnant and recently delivered women are dying in this country. Our maternal mortality rate (measured as deaths per 100,000 live births), when last measured in 2022, was 156.7, one of the country’s highest in recent decades. A harsh reality is that a pregnant or recently delivered woman in Jamaica is more likely to die today than in the 1980s, when our rate was between 110 and 116."
Terrible News
"This is terrible news, not only for pregnant women in Jamaica but for all of us. Why? Because an unacceptable maternal mortality rate is a reflection of a country or region’s health system. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "Maternal death during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum is a tragedy with catastrophic impact on families and serves as an important indicator of the quality of a health system." The World Health Organisation states: "The high number of maternal deaths in some areas of the world reflects inequalities in access to quality health services and highlights the gap between the rich and the poor." So if our maternal mortality rate today is significantly higher than it was four decades ago, it is an indictment of our public health sector.
In my opinion, there are too many people in positions of authority in health who do not genuinely care about the health of our populace. Some situations in the public health sector perplex me. One of them is the absence of certain radiological machines at the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BCH). This institution is the only hospital dedicated to children in the English-speaking Caribbean.
However, in 2024, with all the technological advances in medicine, the hospital has never had a CT or an MRI machine. This situation is unacceptable. "
(I shall refrain from delving into the mystifying challenges at the forgotten parish hospital, whose roof I see from the outside many times daily during daylight. I grieve for and thank the long-suffering staff and the patients they diligently care for despite the minister's and his ministry's affliction with innocence…)
Tufton’s detractors argue that his marketing background informs a tendency to paper over failures with polished rhetoric rather than confronting the harsh realities. Statements like “well worth the wait” ring hollow to families who have lost loved ones during the "wait." It is not enough to promise eventual improvement; leaders must exhibit urgency and accountability, particularly in a sector as critical as healthcare.
Beyond the Spin
To restore public confidence, Jamaica’s health sector requires more than grandiose plans and polished speeches. It demands tangible improvements in patient care, such as reducing ambulance reliance by decentralising critical services and upgrading rural hospitals to Type A status. Resources must be redirected toward preventative care, including robust screening programmes for chronic diseases.
Moreover, transparency in project costs and timelines is non-negotiable. Cost overruns and delays at facilities like CRH and Falmouth must be scrutinised, not dismissed with platitudes. Accountability fosters trust, and trust is the cornerstone of any effective healthcare system.
Conclusion
Dr. Christopher Tufton’s tenure as health minister reflects the duality of ambition and inadequacy. While his administration deserves credit for infrastructure development, it cannot escape blame for systemic failings that continue to endanger lives. The "repugnant innocence" of his leadership lies in its well-intentioned but insufficient efforts—a legacy that raises as many questions as it seeks to answer.
As Jamaica grapples with the mounting challenges of its health sector, one thing is clear: The rhetoric of progress must give way to the reality of impact. Anything less would betray the hopes of those still waiting for a healthcare system that truly serves all Jamaicans.
Furthermore, Dr. Tufton and Dr. Dawes, I, along with some well-acquainted, and adequately maintained sweet-boys, are starting to feel weary of this outbreak of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Jamaica's health sector. You see, as a well-maintained diabetic, PPP is rarely good news—it’s usually a sign I’ve had too many sweets, not too many good deals!
Comments