Opposition vows to fix operating theatres if it forms next gov’t
Published:Thursday | June 19, 2025 | 12:07 AM
The parliamentary Opposition has pledged to significantly cut years-long delays for people awaiting surgeries at public hospitals should it form the next administration.
“We will move from cutting ribbons to cutting hernias and saving lives,” declared Dr Morais Guy, in his final contribution to a Sectoral Debate on Tuesday.
Guy has signalled he will not be continuing in representational politics and therefore his presentation yesterday was the last in Gordon House after serving five terms as member of parliament for St Mary Central.
He said a new administration, led by the PNP, would ensure that every operating theatre – from Kingston Public Hospital to Cornwall Regional Hospital – would be made fully functional.
“Even as we await the promised land with the announced 27 new theatres, the government must get the existing ones working efficiently and consistently,” Guy said.
The Opposition MP, who shadowed the health portfolio in the past, said the PNP would take steps to expand urgent care centres and extend clinic hours, ensuring that Jamaicans can access care quickly and efficiently, “without sleeping on benches or floors or being herded like cattle in the current accident and emergency areas of all hospitals”.
He said a PNP government would ensure that every parish hospital is equipped with functional diagnostic equipment, including CT scanners, adding that waiting for ambulances to transport patients for basic scans would be a thing of the past.
Guy also said that a PNP government would launch national screening programmes for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other leading causes of death.
“Prevention and early treatment will be our mantra.”
Investment in healthcare professionals, said Guy, would also be on the cards as well as plans to offer advanced training, better compensation, and housing incentives to attract and retain the best talent.
He said steps would also be taken to implement a robust preventative maintenance programme for all health facilities and equipment so that the cycle of breakdowns and service disruptions can be properly addressed.
Taking aim at Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, the Opposition spokesman said the minister often reminds the country that he inherited the problems in the health sector from the PNP administration.
“The minister must be reminded that, having recognised the problem and being there for nine years, it was his responsibility as minister to fix it,” Guy said.