K.H.M.H. C.E.O. Blindsided by Workers Union Airing Out Its Grievances

Chandra Cansino

This morning’s media brief held by the K.H.M.H. Workers Union caught the management of the hospital flat-footed.  Notwithstanding a cordial relationship with the union, Chief Executive Officer Chandra Cansino expressed her dismay with the approach that has been taken. Nonetheless, she does admit that there have been serious challenges where operational expenses are concerned.

Chandra Cansino, Chief Executive Officer, K.H.M.H.

“We were caught blindsided by these actions and so that is quite disappointing me because the last discussion the president and I had was that we wanted to maintain an open communication and ensure that we are both aware of things that are going on, either from the management’s side or from the union’s side. That said, the union has every right as union to meet and discuss the issues [that are] of concern to them and, as you all know, this has been going on from… well COVID only multiplied everything. We’ve been struggling with the issuance of supplies. The institution, or Karl Heusner, has been doing everything we possibly can and I think we had discussed this in a previous interview and I had explained that when we don’t get our items that are tendered through the ministry, we make every effort to purchase those items for Karl Heusner. Dis da how ih work, right.  Ah mean, we get a subvention from the ministry every month, it’s about two point four million dollars. Of that, about two point two or two point one, it depends on the month, goes straight to pay salaries. So what we are left with is a very small amount of money for the operations. However, as an authority, we are also obligated to access our own resources which is what we do by billing, by collections to try to get the money that we need to run the hospital.”