OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN on health, Dr Fenton Ferguson, says the Govern-ment's programme of reform for the health sector may be wishful thinking given Jamaica's pending resumption of a borrowing relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament Tuesday, Ferguson pointed to a study done by the Davidson Task Force, which highlighted the impact of IMF terms on the health sector during the latter part of the 1970s.

First casualty

Quoting from the report of the task force, Ferguson, a medical doctor, said: "The IMF conditionality in 1979 was very harsh and immediately public health became the first casualty."

He reminded the House that the abolition of user fees, the development of primary health care and health reform of the ministry of health were critical elements of the Michael Manley administration of the 1970s.

"The primary victim of the IMF conditionalities was the social service, and health and education paid the highest price," he said.

Serious demand

The opposition spokesman said that if the IMF terms were different and budgetary cuts did not affect the health ministry, the administration was still faced with serious demand arising from increasing health costs.

With a 40 per cent increase in the utilisation of drugs over last year, Ferguson questioned the health minister's claim that Jamaicans saved $2.2 billion from the no-user-fee policy.

"The demand for services alone, with the fallout of user fees, was estimated to cost anywhere between $6 billion to $8 billion of taxpayers' money," he said.

"Minister, you have not saved any money from the removal of user fees, what you have done is robbed Peter to pay Paul," Ferguson charged.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com