Click to view full size

IN JUSTIFYING his ministry’s request for over $700 million in supplemental funding, Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe outlined on Monday, government’s five-year plan to improve critical areas in the health care sector.

In his introductory speech before the Standing Finance Committee, Bodoe as had been the case in previous ministers, prefaced the request by saying the additional sums were to meet shortfalls inherited from the previous PNM government.

In the case of his ministry, Bodoe said that most of the $728,539,290 in supplemental funding being requested was to meet outstanding payments owed to suppliers of goods and services including pharmaceuticals to the various RHAs (regional health authorities).