Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has categorically denied any assertions that a toilet paper shortage is affecting Jamaica’s public hospitals amid growing outrage from a viral video on Sunday (December 17).

Tufton, responding to the video directly on X.com, formerly Twitter, posted a video from the Montego Bay warehouse of the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) with stacks of toilet paper while noting that he was gathering information to understand the context of the issue.

According to the minister, toilet paper stores are sufficient and delivered weekly to public hospitals across the island.

“Current situation at the Western Regional Health Authority warehouse in Montego Bay – over 1700 cases of domestic tissue in stock – 1500 cases on order. These are distributed weekly to ALL hospitals- no shortage,” he said.

“Sometimes provided on request due to patients taking away once placed in bathrooms (sic),” Tufton wrote in earlier tweet.

Current situation at the Western Regional Health Authority warehouse in Montego Bay – over 1700 cases of domestic tissue in stock – 1500 cases on order. These are distributed weekly to ALL hospitals- no shortage. @wrhagovjm @themohwgovjm @This_is_a_Blast pic.twitter.com/Ceqvw1JW34

— Dr. Chris Tufton (@christufton) December 17, 2023

It comes just hours after a viral video depicted one American woman’s struggle in obtaining toilet paper to relieve herself, as initial reports suggest the incident was captured at the gynaecology department of the Cornwall Regional Hospital in the second city.

In the video, posted by popular community page @This_is_a_Blast, the woman first attempts to take paper towels before she is confronted by the matron on duty, who explains that they are not for bathroom use.

She insisted that she had gone an extended period asking for toilet paper and was not assisted, prompting her to take the matter into her own hands.

Documenting the ordeal, the woman was first told by the senior nurse that camera recordings are prohibited in public hospitals—a caveat Tufton himself also noted was government policy in his responses on X.com.

The patient then repeats that she “has been asking for tissue since I’ve been here”, and that “no one” assisted her, to which the senior nurse is heard replying, “You know where you are? Jamaica”.

The female patient then adds that she needs another adult diaper, to which the matron answered that it isn’t the hospital’s duty “to provide those personal things to patients”.

“How I am supposed to know that when I’m not from here?” the woman asked, eliciting another reponse from the nurse, who said “That’s what I’m trying to tell you”.

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The video has left Jamaicans on social media upset at the deplorable patient relations on display in public hospitals, with many critisising the apathetic nature of the senior nurse.

Citing the disconnect between Tufton’s responses to that of the matron, some slammed the minister for being ‘disingenuous’—suggesting he was out of touch with the needs of public hospitals.

“The woman had all right to record how she was being treated… she was ill, traumatized and didn’t feel safe… You simply don’t treat people anyway you like and believe it’s ok,” commented Instagram user @miaxmckenzie.

Others confirmed the American’s experience as ‘normal’, as they also have had to bring toiletries and other personal items during their stay.

“Tbh the hospitals rarely supply toiletries normally it’s you or your family that has to buy them,” said @_asheeba_daaw.

Medical professionals rejected the backlash, however, insisting that the public health system and widespread instaces of theft are to blame.

“As a student nurse who has done rotations in these public hospitals…. It’s a PUBLIC hospital. So most things especially personal items (even drinking water) the family has to provide. On ward we the nurses barely have resources working with so imagine giving them to the patients….. The least the family can do is provide your necessities. From outside looking in it’s easy to say the nurses don’t care but yall don’t know the half of what we go through with this jamaican system. Blame the system!” one practitioner commented.

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