Opposition says auditor general probe into health contract with UK company might be warranted

Opposition spokesman on health, Dr Alfred Dawes, is suggesting a probe by the Auditor General's Department into the health ministry's contract with The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) might be necessary at this time.

Dawes this week raised questions about the contract with TPP for the digitisation of electronic health records following news about alleged racist comments made by the company's owner, Frank Hester.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has since condemned the racist remarks about Jamaican and United Kingdom Member of Parliament, Diane Abbott.

However, in another media release on Wednesday, Dawes said the health ministry's comments on the matter did not go far enough.

He also said the release failed to address the matter of how a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a US$2.4 million contract morphed into the announcement of a US$5 million contract being signed with TPP.

“On no less than three occasions in a meeting with interested parties, it was minuted that the US$2.4 million bid should include all aspects of implementation for a fixed number of facilities for a three-year period. The country needs to know when and on whose instructions was this changed,” Dawes stated.

He asserted that without clarification on the substantial deviation in contract value or justification for the RFP's departure from industry best practices, an inquiry by the auditor general may be warranted.

He said the Opposition is continuing to call for a comprehensive review of the contract with TPP.

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