Health Minister Ruddy Spencer has been instructed to send a copy of the National Chest Report to the Medical Council of Jamaica with a view to holding an enquiry to determine the future of Dr Dennis Pyne, a consultant general thoracic surgeon at the facility.

Pyne has been at the centre of controversy after a report, made by a seven-member committee established to review the operations of the National Chest Hospital, alleged that Pyne solicited public patients to become private ones, among other breaches.

Speaking Tuesday during a press conference, Spencer said the solicitor general advised that the committee set up by the minister had no power to make any determination of the rights and obligations of anyone, as it was advisory and could only make recommendations.

Spencer said the solicitor general, therefore, instructed him to submit the report to the Public Service Commission in order to determine whether there has been any breach of the Staff Order Regulations.

"The minister has also been advised to submit the report to the Medical Council for its consideration of the contents and with a view to proceeding to hold an enquiry pursuant to the provisions of the Medical Act as it deems fit," said Spencer. These reports are now in the hands of the two bodies.

Apology

Meanwhile, Pyne recently demanded an apology from Spencer, claiming that he was hurt by the allegations.

But contrition was the last thing on Spencer's mind.

"Is there something to apologise for? If Dr Pyne is guilty, then he should apologise. If he is not guilty then there is no need to apologise," Spencer told journalists at the Ministry of Health's downtown Kingston offices.

Spencer said the ministry was undergoing a process of transfor-mation that preceded the task force report. He noted that a programme of restructuring of the public health sector has commenced at the ministry's corporate head office.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com