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Board reinstates Michael Khan as GPHC’s CEO

Aug 06, 2016 News

-Health Minister to “straighten” situation

“We can ill afford to have things go wrong at the Georgetown Public Hospital,” said Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton. The Minister was at the time reacting to a move by the Board of Directors of the hospital to reinstate Mr. Michael Khan as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
This publication understands that the Board of Directors instructed Khan by way of letter to resumed duties yesterday. Khan was sent on administrative leave last year to facilitate a forensic audit into the procurement process at the hospital.
But according to reports reaching this publication, the audit, which was conducted by Junior Finance Minister, Mr. Jaipaul Sharma, had cleared Khan of allegations of wrongdoings.
However, the Board was reportedly divided on Khan’s reinstatement and had therefore written to Minister Norton to preside on the matter.
At Thursday’s post Cabinet press briefing, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, also weighed in on the matter pointing out that “Cabinet has not been informed by the Minister of Public Health that a decision has been taken for anyone to resume duties based on clearance by the audit.”
He speculated that while the audit would have made several recommendations, only one might have been given attention (thus far).
He said, “Sometimes when we use the word ‘cleared’ you have to look at it very closely. You might have been cleared of one allegation but there are several others that have not been addressed. We would have to look at that very closely,” added the Minister of State.
Minister Norton, commenting on reports that Khan has been reinstated by the Board yesterday, said that it isn’t logical that such a decision could have been made when the findings of the audit and the reason that Khan was sent home in the first place, are still being discussed.
The Minister intimated that “they have disregarded my authority.” He, however, assured “I have it all under control.”
“While there is a Board with a Chairman who I appointed…it is not an executive Board,” explained Minister Norton who also pointed out that the CEO of the hospital is the one tasked with its day to day operation.
But according to Minister Norton, based on his observation “we have persons who are not familiar with their roles and have been doing what they are not supposed to do, and we will have to straighten that out.”
Minister Norton said, too, that he has already sent a letter to both the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman, and Mr. Khan summoning them to his office over the situation.
But Dr. Hanoman, in an invited comment, yesterday, said the decision to reinstate Khan was a principled one. “We are more concerned with the principle of the matter more than the person,” said the Chairman. “There was an investigation and based on that a decision was made.”
“The GPHC will continue to look at the best policies that will facilitate the betterment of GPHC and patient care. It is in this light that decisions were made for the way forward,” added Dr. Hanoman.
Meanwhile, this publication understands that Paul Clarke who had reportedly turned up at the hospital claiming he was appointed the Deputy CEO, has since not returned. Clarke had raised concerns when he informed officials at the hospital that he was appointed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Trevor Thomas. Thomas has since dismissed these claims and Government, through Mr Harmon, disregarded the appointment.
The Acting CEO of the Hospital, Mr. Alan Johnson, has reportedly proceeded on one-month sick leave, and Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Sheik Amir, is currently filling the gap.

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