UHWI says funding shortfalls led to non-payment of statutory obligations

The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) has blamed "structural underfunding" for its ballooning tax debt.

Acting chief executive officer of the UHWI, Eric Hosin, told members of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday that the hospital owed Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) more than $40 billion in taxes.

In a media release on Wednesday, the UHWI sought to clarify the matter stating that the total figure of approximately $40 billion reflects obligations accumulated over the period 2011 to 2026.

It said it is comprised of $18 billion in statutory obligations, $20 billion in accumulated interest and penalties, and $2 billion in General Consumption Tax.

"Nearly half of this figure represents interest, and penalties accrued over 15 years and does not reflect a single-period operational failure," the UHWI stated.

It further explained that the UHWI operates as a fee-paying hospital, a regional teaching institution, and a national referral centre legally required to provide care to all patients regardless of ability to pay.

The UHWI said government subventions have consistently averaged approximately 75 per cent of the hospital's annual budget request, resulting in a structural monthly shortfall of approximately $300 million in statutory obligations.

In managing these constrained resources, the UHWI said it has directed available funds toward sustaining patient care, staff salaries and critical supplier relationships necessary to maintain uninterrupted healthcare services.

"UHWI has operated under sustained financial pressure for many years, driven largely by structural underfunding. Our overriding priority has been to keep services running and our staff supported.

We are committed to resolving our outstanding obligations and are actively engaged with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Finance & the Public Service to find a sustainable path forward," said Hosin in the media release.

In the meantime the UHWI contributions to the National Housing Trust and National Insurance Scheme were paid in full for 2025 and for the period January to March 2026.

It said it was not aware of any staff member being adversely affected because of statutory obligations outstanding prior to 2025.

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