Public hospitals are currently experiencing a critical shortage of bed space because people fail to collect their relatives from the hospitals once they have been treated, according to Health Minister Ruddy Spencer.

At the same time, the health minister said he has received reports that some patients are still being charged to access health services, even though the government abolished user fees at public health facilities a little over a month ago.

"We want to appeal to the public that those of you who have patients in hospitals, some of whom have already been checked, we are asking you to collect them, your relative or friends," Spencer said during a press conference at the ministry last Friday. "There is a serious shortage of bed space and we need every available space we can get. There is serious overcrowding in a number of hospitals - May Pen, Lionel Town, Mandeville especially, Black River and also in some of the Kingston hospitals."

Spencer pointed out that it was not clear whether the shortage was attributed to the abolition of the user fees, however, he said the health workers are "stretched to the limit, given the kind of service being delivered".

The ministry has seen 283,000 patients registered in hospitals and 74 type three to type five health centres since the abolition of the charges. Fees foregone in registration at these facilities amounted to something in the region of $53.58 million, while $79.3 million in fees were forgone in major services such as lab and x-ray, pharmaceutical services and admissions at May Pen and Cornwall Regional hospitals.

Speaking to the issue of patients being charged in the public health sector, Spencer said one patient was asked to pay $40,000 for surgery.

"There are certain reports that we have been getting. that in some health institutions people are still charging or trying to charge patients," he said. "We have had reports in a particular institution where a patient had to use their Blue Cross [card] and in addition to using their Blue Cross they were told to bring in some $40,000 more to access surgery. I wish to state publicly that this Ministry of Health condemns any such behaviour. If there is any corroborative evidence this ministry will ensure that strong disciplinary action is taken."

The health minister said he has also received reports that some public health workers who committed to working overtime are not being remunerated. He encouraged workers experiencing this difficulty to report it to the Dr Grace Allen Young, permanent secretary in the health ministry.

"I wish to reiterate that this is not the ministry's position. We said publicly then and we are saying now that when those people sacrifice and work additional time, whatever your station in life, in order to see the abolition of the user fees a success, they must be paid and must be paid on time," he said.

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