THE BOARD of the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) says it has implemented several cost-cutting measures over nine months to address major financial and operational deficiencies inherited from the previous administration which severely compromised healthcare delivery.

The release on Saturday stated, “The board inherited an organisation facing severe financial constraints, widespread operational inefficiencies, non-existent maintenance programmes and broken-down medical equipment, while hundreds of millions of dollars were owed to suppliers for maintenance, medical equipment and essential services. In several instances, suppliers ceased providing goods and services to the NCRHA due to outstanding payments owed to them, resulting in shortages of critical supplies, including unavailable laboratory reagents and delays in equipment repairs.”

It highlighted that tighter financial management and corrective measures implemented which included: