The United National Congress has commended Dr Tim Goopeesingh and the North Central Regional Health Authority Board (NCRHA) for the improvements they have made in healthcare delivery during the past eight months.
Dr Goopeesingh presented his report to the Prime Minister on the Board’s work during the past eight months.
In the report, the NCRHA Chairman reported inheriting several challenges including over $350 million in debt, irregular spending, weak procurement systems, and mismanagement.
“At the time of appointment, the Authority was confronted with serious and deeply rooted challenges. These included a substantial debt burden exceeding $350 million, widespread irregular expenditure, procurement practices that bypassed established requirements, and clear evidence of systemic weaknesses that allowed mismanagement and, in some instances, corrupt practices to persist,” Dr Gopeesingh reported.
“Immediate action was required to arrest financial leakage, restore proper governance, and stabilize the institution,” he added.
Dr Goopeesingh reported that stronger financial reforms have led to over $150 million in savings and recoveries, while staffing and management have been restructured.
“The actions undertaken over the past eight months have addressed critical weaknesses in financial management, procurement, governance, and service delivery. The Authority has: reduced its debt exposure, curtailed irregular expenditure, corrected management structures, expanded clinical services, established accountability, and stabilized key infrastructure,” he stated.
“These measures have established a more disciplined and functional organisation, better positioned to provide reliable and timely healthcare services. Work remains ongoing. However, the progress achieved within this period reflects a clear and sustained effort to restore proper management and improve operational performance across the NCRHA.”
Dr Goopeesingh added that clinical services, infrastructure, and patient care have been significantly upgraded, including reduced waiting times, and improved access to healthcare overall.
