The Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) and the Tobago House of Assembly’s (THA) Health Secretary have come under fire for delays in delivering new ambulances, after spending over one million renting vehicles this year.
Minority Leader Kelvon Morris yesterday said he’s disappointed at the prolonged process.
He said he’s even more concerned that retrofitting issues with the new vehicles and poor management have now worsened Tobago’s ambulance crisis.
During a media conference yesterday, Morris said, “Over the past year, they have already spent something like $1.5 million leasing, in fact, two point something million dollars leasing the service of ambulances. An ambulance, on average, costs about $500,000 to $600,000, so they’ve already paid in lease what they could have used to purchase about four to five ambulances for the year.”
Morris also raised concerns about the quality of the ambulances purchased.
“The information coming to me is that the ambulances were, in fact, delivered and were in Trinidad, but the ambulance that came… only had one entrance and exit. So they had to now retrofit… to fit a space now to accommodate a second entrance onto the ambulance,” he explained.
Morris described the process as a glaring example of mismanagement.
“Imagine that people being paid thousands and thousands of dollars, and something as simple as an ambulance… this hapless, cruellest administration that can’t even buy some ambulances,” he said.
“Tobago deserves better than this.”
Contacted on the issue, however, THA Health Secretary Dr Faith B Yisrael said the RHA is merely ensuring the ambulances meet all contract specifications before accepting them.
“The TRHA, in accordance with the provisions of its contract, reserves the right to inspect the vehicles before accepting their delivery,” she said.
She went on to assure the public that the vehicles had passed rigorous inspections by both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transportation in Trinidad. “These vehicles have passed all necessary inspections in Trinidad, from both the Ministry of Health, in conformity with the Ambulance Act, and the Ministry of Transportation, in conformity with the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.”
During a recent plenary sitting, B.Yisrael disclosed that four ambulances had arrived in Trinidad—three in July and one in September. At the time, she explained that these vehicles were being cleared and configured for use and were awaiting final approval from the Ministry of Health.
“They should be ready by November,” she said then.
She added that eight additional ambulances have been ordered, bringing the total cost of the new fleet to $4.34 million.
She said that the TRHA’s decisions were part of a broader effort to enhance healthcare delivery in Tobago. “The TRHA is committed to upgrading all aspects of healthcare delivery and provision in Tobago, including the replacement of its ambulance fleet.”
However, Morris said he’s unconvinced, adding the delays and ongoing issues reflect poorly on the administration’s ability to address Tobago’s healthcare needs.
“This has been one of the longest procurement processes I’ve ever seen. The people of Tobago are suffering while this administration drags its feet. We need these ambulances now, and we need them properly equipped.”
Morris also questioned the cost-effectiveness of the TRHA’s approach, pointing out that the money spent on renting ambulances could have been better utilised. “Over $2 million has already been spent on renting ambulances this year alone… that’s money that could have gone toward purchasing new vehicles outright. It’s a clear case of misplaced priorities.”
In the past B.Yisrael defended the expenditure, saying the rented ambulances were necessary to ensure uninterrupted service while the new fleet was being prepared.
Morris said he is pushing for greater accountability, asking, “If the TRHA can’t get something as simple as an ambulance right, how can we trust them to handle other critical matters in the healthcare system?”
