Medical Complaints Body Coming

Contact: John Emmanuel

Thursday, October 4, 2001 – Saint Lucia is getting an independent body to receive and determine public complaints against medical doctors and other health care providers.

Establishment of the commission is provided for under the new Health Services Complaints and Conciliation Act  which was passed in the House of Assembly last month.

“The purpose of this bill is not to catch anybody,”  said Health Minister Hon. Sarah Flood Beaubrun as she piloted the legislation through the House.

She added:  “The whole idea is that persons can have an avenue by which they can make their complaints. The commission would then listen to those complaints and look towards resolving them in a very amicable fashion if that is at all possible.”

The commission will have the normal powers of a tribunal and serve as a feedback mechanism by providing much needed information on how users of health services are responding to government’s reform measures.

Flood-Beaubrun said the new legislation formed part of Government’s attempt to remodel the entire health system. She noted: “We have revamped or redesigned the Accident and Emergency Department. We have made various improvements in mental health, we have assisted in terms of the emergency services on the island.

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