Shadow Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Alfred Dawes says findings by the Auditor General that no procurement documents were located for $521 million in contracts awarded by the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) confirm what he describes as sustained governance failures within the public health system.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dr Dawes said the findings validate concerns he has raised for more than a year regarding procurement practices across the Ministry of Health and Wellness and its agencies.

“Each time these issues were raised, the Minister assured the country that systems were functioning properly,” Dr Dawes said. “The Auditor General has now confirmed that this was not the case.”

The Auditor General’s report found that UHWI was unable to provide procurement documentation for contracts valued at $521 million, raising questions about compliance with established rules and oversight mechanisms.

Dr Dawes said the latest findings align with previous controversies within the health sector, including the $80 million payment to Market Me flagged by the Integrity Commission and the acquisition of a $31 million drill for the Bustamante Hospital for Children, which he noted had previously been publicly defended by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton.

According to Dr Dawes, repeated assurances that procurement rules were being followed have been contradicted by multiple oversight bodies.

He rejected suggestions that the issues stem from inherited weaknesses, noting that the current administration has been in office for nearly a decade.

“After three consecutive terms in government, explanations based on inherited problems are no longer credible,” he said. “Responsibility rests with those currently overseeing the system.”

Dr Dawes warned that procurement failures have direct consequences for patient care, arguing that weak governance undermines service delivery and strains healthcare workers.

“When procurement systems fail, hospitals lack essential equipment, services deteriorate, and patients ultimately suffer,” he said.

The opposition spokesman is calling for independent accountability measures, arguing that internal reviews lack credibility when conducted by those responsible for oversight.

“The public cannot have confidence in a system investigating itself,” Dr Dawes said, adding that Jamaicans deserve independent scrutiny and reforms that prioritise patients and the proper use of public funds.