No MBS board appointed since General Election; source alleges that previous chair and health minister are ‘running things’

The Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) is being run illegally, charges an
informed source, who says the statutory body has been operating
without a board of directors for five months now.

During its first term in office – after losing a court case brought by
the former chairman of the Mount St. John Medical Centre – the
Browne Administration passed legislation that automatically ended
the tenure of board members upon the holding of a general election.
Accordingly, the last board’s tenure ended, by law, with the holding
of the January 18, 2023 polls.

Since then, the informer says, no new board has been appointed; but
the previous chairman and Minister of Health Sir Molwyn Joseph are
alleged to be “running things” at the statutory body.

Reportedly, Joseph wishes to have the legislation amended to allow
a chairperson to serve more than two terms. This, the source
further alleges, is to allow the immediate past chair to continue
serving in that capacity.

The informer alleges that – in the absence of a board – this former
official continues to be involved in the daily operations of the
Medical Benefits Scheme and has access to its files.
“Since he is not a board member or employee of MBS, he should not
have access to the confidential medical records of contributors,” the
person points out.

Meanwhile, it is also alleged that Sir Molwyn, himself, is making
decisions on the applications for medical assistance that come to the
Scheme.

All this, the source says, goes against the letter and spirit of the
Medical Benefits Scheme legislation, since the confidentiality
required – with both financial and medical information – is not
being properly observed.

Management and staff, it appears, are not happy about the situation,
but, understandably, are not willing to put their jobs on the line by
objecting to it, the source says. However, the informer believes that
the public – whose taxes support the Scheme – have the right to
know.

Sir Molwyn has been the subject of much criticism and the object of
greater ridicule of late, given the inability of the National Solid
Waste Authority’s inability to collect waste in a timely manner.
The situation has not been helped, insiders say, by the termination
of more than 20 independent contractors “due to severe financial
constraints,” last week, according to letters issued by the acting
general manager.

A second letter, issued by the Authority’s chairman, says the Bulk
Waste Program has been suspended until January 2024, at which
time the contractors’ services might be resumed.

The dramatic slide in waste-collection services is also being blamed
for the infestation of rats at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, forcing
the closure of the kitchen and the outsourcing of food services.
No word of explanation or apology has been heard from Sir Molwyn,
to date, critics say.