And while Chebat held his tongue today - he didn't do so last week when he bluntly told the KHMH board to "step up" and and handle its business when dealing with a shortage of critical medications. Those curt and accusatory remarks are what prompted Dr. Fernando Cuellar to resign two days later from the KHMH Board of Governors.
On the day of that resignation, 2 days after those stinging remarks were delivered, Chebat held a meeting with other KHMH Board Members, in an effort to mend fences and discuss the most pressing concerns of the hospital's management.
This morning, we asked the Minister to discuss the outcomes of those talks. He told the press that the Government has decided to provide 1.5 million dollars of monies owed to relieve some of the hospital financial pressures:
Hon. Michel Chebat - Ministry of Health and Wellness
"As I have said before, the KHMH is an integral part of our health system, and our responsibility as a government and as a ministry is really to make sure that that institution remains open. I had a very fruitful conversation with both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board, and we're trying to put in place a 60-day forecast so that we don't find them complaining or finding themselves having a shortage of medication. We feel that if they give us, at least, a 60-day list of the medications that they need, then we can supply it on a timely basis. As you saw today, the Government has given a 1.5 million dollar injection into the KHMH to help them with their expenses. So, I have asked them that instead of waiting for a year to present these expenses to the Ministry, perhaps every 30 days, they can give us the expenses they have incurred in terms of COVID so that we can see how we can resolve that. So, I'm hoping that those 2 things will help to ease the stress that they're feeling."
Reporter
"They've said 5 million is owed though. What happens with the remaining?"
Hon. Michel Chebat
"Well, their request at this time was for 1.5 million dollars. That was the request coming from the Chairman, and we have that in writing."
In a text comment, Chairman of the Board of Governors Dr Andre Sosa told us, quote, "the KHMHA has negotiated directly with the Ministry of Finance which said that what they had available at the moment was $1.5 million. We have accepted their offer but with a request for a schedule for the disbursement of the balance due to the KHMHA."
He adds that he is not sure if that information was shared with persons outside of the direct negotiations and says, quote, "We will continue talks with the Ministry of Finance. The financial straits of the health system and of the KHMHA has been duly documented and reported at all levels, and is accessible for all persons interested in the welfare of the the people of this country. The same can be said for the daily, weekly and monthly requests for supplies. There is supporting documentation of those requests all the way to the top." end quote.
