Dear Editor,
I notice that talks are ongoing between the finance and the industry investment and commerce ministries regarding the use of unclaimed funds in financial institutions. I have no objections to using the money to fund micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), but the health service is crying out for improvement and should be given priority in the use of these funds.
Every day we hear tales of woe about conditions patients and staff endure in the public health service. These range from lack of or non-functioning equipment to the unavailability of prescribed drugs, to uncomfortable and sometimes dilapidated facilities.
Some of these MSMEs are already being funded by these same financial institutions, plus some can go to the public for funding by offering shares. MSMEs are businesses which are profit-making ventures for their owners. Many of these owners and their staff may also become users of some of these health facilities at some time.
I would also suggest that these unclaimed monies not be put into general revenue but are managed by the National Health Fund for the specific purpose of buying equipment, medicines and improving health facilities. I am sure the owners of these unclaimed funds would not raise many objections to the funds being used for this purpose were they in a position to do so. Many sick and needy people are not in a position to purchase the required prescribed drugs if they have to resort to private pharmacies to do so when the Government pharmacies are out of stock. Run-down facilities put undue pressure on the staff of the health service, thus affecting the morale and creating enmity between staff and patient. I hope the Minister of Health will give support to this idea.
Trevor Samuels
President
National Consumers League
natcomle@cwjamaica.com
Use unclaimed funds to assist the public health service
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I notice that talks are ongoing between the finance and the industry investment and commerce ministries regarding the use of unclaimed funds in financial institutions. I have no objections to using the money to fund micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), but the health service is crying out for improvement and should be given priority in the use of these funds.
Every day we hear tales of woe about conditions patients and staff endure in the public health service. These range from lack of or non-functioning equipment to the unavailability of prescribed drugs, to uncomfortable and sometimes dilapidated facilities.
Some of these MSMEs are already being funded by these same financial institutions, plus some can go to the public for funding by offering shares. MSMEs are businesses which are profit-making ventures for their owners. Many of these owners and their staff may also become users of some of these health facilities at some time.
I would also suggest that these unclaimed monies not be put into general revenue but are managed by the National Health Fund for the specific purpose of buying equipment, medicines and improving health facilities. I am sure the owners of these unclaimed funds would not raise many objections to the funds being used for this purpose were they in a position to do so. Many sick and needy people are not in a position to purchase the required prescribed drugs if they have to resort to private pharmacies to do so when the Government pharmacies are out of stock. Run-down facilities put undue pressure on the staff of the health service, thus affecting the morale and creating enmity between staff and patient. I hope the Minister of Health will give support to this idea.
Trevor Samuels
President
National Consumers League
natcomle@cwjamaica.com
Use unclaimed funds to assist the public health service
-->