NASSAU, BAHAMAS-Opposition Health spokesman Dr Michael Darville yesterday said the former administration would make no apologies for the award of a contract for an $18 million integrated health information system to Chicago-based Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc.
Darville was responding to a Tribune article, which suggested millions had been lost in a failed deal arranged under the former Christie administration with the IT provider.
“The Allscripts contract was awarded according to all due processes and there is no truth of the fact that the company got special privileges in the bidding process,” Darville said.
“Contrary to The Tribune story, Allscripts did not submit their bid late and it was done in accordance with all the appropriate rules of the Board.”
Darville said the purpose of the Allscripts deal was to “modernize the public healthcare system to produce a single medical record, improve supply chains, revenue cycle management services by computerizing the administrative arms of the Princess Margaret hospital, the Rand Memorial Hospital and clinics”.
He continued: “We intended to collect the much needed operational capital mainly from insurance companies, tourists and expat workers who continue to use the public healthcare medical and surgical services, diagnostic and lab facilities without being charged or receiving billing in a timely fashion sometimes years after.”
Health Minister Dr Duane Sands told the Tribune the integrated healthcare management system (iHMS) deal signed by the Christie administration in 2016 had failed to deliver and left the taxpayers facing a multi-million dollar loss.
According to the Tribune, the Public Hospital’s Authority paid Allscripts and its strategic partner Infor Lawson $6.5 million to-date with nothing to show for it.
In his statement, Darville accused Sands of being misinformed.
“As far as we are concerned this is another one of his political distractions to deflect the multiple challenges that currently exist brought on by his poor leadership,” Darville said.
He continued: “After almost three years of wasting tax payers money on multiple forensic audits the Free national Movement has made it clear to the Bahamian people that instead of governing they have one thing in mind and that is to try and discredit the Progressive Liberal Party and our aggressive healthcare agenda that if not stopped reviewed and cancelled by the Minister of Health could have played a pivotal role in the transformation of the public healthcare system prior to the full launch of universal healthcare by way of National Health Insurance.”
Defending the deal, Darville said: “We make no apologies in awarding the contract to AllScripts, a reputable US medical software company.
“The experts recommended them as the Number One choice. In awarding the contract, we wanted to modernize our public healthcare system to produce a single medical record, improve supply chains, revenue cycle management services by computerizing the administrative arms of the Princess Margaret hospital, the Rand Memorial Hospital and clinics.
He said: “We intended to collect the much needed operational capital mainly from insurance companies, tourists and expat workers who continue to use the public healthcare medical and surgical services, diagnostic and lab facilities without being charged or receiving billing in a timely fashion sometimes years after.”
“Finally, the public should know that the FNM under Duane Sands cancelled the contract. So, if there are problems with the system in the PHA today, Dr Sands must take full responsibility and stop blaming the PLP.
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