TWENTY “preferred” companies benefited over a billion dollars in contracts through the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) in the last ten years while patient care suffered, NCRHA chairman Dr Tim Gopeesingh said yesterday.

Gopeesingh has cited “major corruption” in the management of the public health system and said audits into the operations of the NCRHA will remain ongoing in the coming months. Stating that significant irregularities were found in the procurement of goods and services, Gopeesingh warned that matters would be “escalated” where necessary.

He was speaking at a news conference at the United National Congress (UNC) headquarters in Chaguanas.