KHMHA Workers Union Says Shortage of Medication Continues at KHMH

One of the issues that the KHMHA Workers Union wants to be resolved is the shortage of medication. This has been a perennial problem that the Ministry of Health and Wellness continues to battle with and it’s causing concerns to increase. While there are several contributing factors, the Union says it’s time for this issue to be resolved permanently. Speaking on this is KHMHA Workers Union President Andrew Baird who says that the KHMHA is not being accurate with the information being shared to the public. 

Andrew Baird, President, KHMH Workers Union: “Lies cost lives. Like yesterday and like the numbers that the CEO have sent to you guys. She stated that was as of the 7th of February. Our follow up meeting in reference to shortages was the 24th of January so she is saying that before the 7th of February there was a shortage but come the 7th of February all of a sudden because the unions and the staff are agitated you find out that supplies come. This is the reason why our membership are saying we’re not going to buy it. We need continuity in the supply chain and we need to seek continuity. You want us to lapse our measures then you need to ensure us that we will not go back to the same place in the next two weeks.”

Reporter: She also said that regarding medications at KHMH there are no further reports of quality concerns since the last reported covered by the media in 2022 is that accurate ? 

Andrew Baird, President, KHMH Workers Union: “Admittedly yesterday I believe the CEO of the Ministry of Health agreed with us that there was an issue with gentamicin as well as there was an issue with the medication Bactrim so yes we’re still having issue with quality. In our meeting yesterday we presented some materials such as tapes, IV connections, syringes and so that they agree that are of inferior quality and they are going to ban them from being part of the procurement purchasing.”

Reporter: And what do you make of the explanation from the Minister Kevin Bernard in previous interviews and the CEO Ms.Chandra Nisbet Cansino basically they’re saying that there’s no shortage of medicine and equipment at the KHMH? 

Andrew Baird, President, KHMH Workers Union: “Obviously if that was the case the plan of action mandated by our membership and staff members would not continue.”