Cayman’s Health Services Authority has sent its chief pharmacist on required leave and terminated the employment of one of its pharmacy staffers as it investigates allegations of breaches in its procedures and controls at its pharmacy.
The Cayman Compass has confirmed that Colin Medford, HSA’s chief pharmacist, was sent on leave and pharmacy employee Sean Golding was fired from his position at the authority.
Golding was reportedly arrested last month at the Owen Roberts International Airport.
Details on the allegations against both Golding and Medford have not been released.
The Compass understands another HSA pharmacist was also sent on required leave.
Osbourne Bodden, HSA chairman of the board, told the Compass on Friday morning that the situation “concerns us greatly”.
Though he did not go into the circumstances surrounding the required leave situation, Bodden said the matter is being dealt with by the authorities.
“We have given Senior Management our full support to get to the bottom of all of this. RCIPS will be working in tandem with Government’s Internal Audit to ensure all allegations are either proven or dismissed,” Bodden said.
Bodden said that matter “is very serious and we are treating it as such”.
He declined to speak further on the allegations and claims that have been making the rounds on social media.
“We do not wish for trial by media as there’s a lot of unproven [things] being talked [about], and we have a lot of good staff who are naturally impacted by this,” Bodden said.
In a statement on Medford’s case, HSA said Thursday night that following a review of its pharmacy procedures and controls, “a senior pharmacy staff member” had been placed on required leave.
Though HSA did not release Medford’s name, the Compass was able to confirm from independent sources close to the internal investigation that he was sent on leave.
The HSA did not provide any details on the probe or why Medford was sent on leave, only saying, “This will allow for the continuation of a comprehensive internal investigation of the HSA’s procedures.”
It said that there will be no interruption of pharmacy services during this time.
HSA did not confirm Golding’s name either following his arrest. It did, however, issue a statement at the time acknowledging his detention.
It said then, “We are taking this matter very seriously and are conducting an internal investigation in conjunction with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.”
The HSA Pharmacy and its operations have been the subject of scrutiny in the past.
Auditor General Sue Winspear had expressed disappointment in 2021 in the HSA’s failed procurement exercise for its pharmacy, saying value for money is important when around $9 million annually is being spent.
The Office of the Auditor General’s HSA Outpatient Pharmacy Services report also highlighted issues with the out-dated Pharmacy Act and lack of performance checks at the government pharmacy facility.
The pharmacy probe is also the latest in a string of incidents involving HSA personnel.
Just last week, one of its visiting practitioners was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by reason of gross negligence in relation to an incident that occurred on 21 Jan.
The 61-year-old man, a George Town resident, was released on police bail pending further investigation.
No charges have been laid against him.
Both HSA and the RCIPS declined to release details on the allegations made against the doctor.
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