NGO Senator Concerned About Abolishing DHS Post, Leadership in Health Sector

Thirteenth senator Osmany Salas, who also spoke against the bill, agrees that the manner in which government is seeking to abolish the role of the DHS is questionable and that the lack of leadership in the public health sector is cause for serious concern amid the pandemic.

Osmany Salas

Osmany Salas, NGO Senator

“I think that any fair-minded person will agree that this whole situation with the DHS and this slew of legislations has been horribly mishandled. I think any fair-minded person will agree. Look, I also have to say and in consultation with experts in the health field, senior nurses, retired doctors and others, because I have reached out to several people. There are major problems with leadership issues in the health sector. I have spoken to some good friends of mine that work at the Northern Regional Hospital and they are very concerned about the lack of leadership. They are very concerned that things could fall apart very easily.  Now I think we will all agree that the Director of Health Service’s position has been a heavyweight position. I did not realize how heavyweight it or top heavy with all these responsibilities under one person and if this had been handled differently, we could have had a sober discussion about what we need to improve the situation.  Now I have to agree with my colleagues who have spoken before me, that, you know we can’t take this any other way but to see this as an attempt to  legally remove the current DHS and bypassing the constitutionally appointed role of the Public Services Commission.”