The Medical Council of Jamaica could hold an inquiry into allegations of professional misconduct made against Dr Dennis Pyne who has been at the centre of a damning report on operations at the National Chest Hospital in Kingston.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer said yesterday that the solicitor general has advised that the report be submitted to the Medical Council for its consideration of the contents and with a view to proceeding to hold an inquiry pursuant to the provisions of the Medical Act as it deems fit.

Recommendations were also made by Solicitor General Douglas Leys for the report to be submitted to the Public Service Commission in order to determine whether there has been any breach of the Staff Order Regulations.

Dr Pyne, a consultant general thoracic and vascular surgeon, was interdicted last year following allegations that he charged public patients private fees.

Spencer, who had sought legal advice from the attorney general on how to proceed, told journalists during a press conference at his downtown Kingston office yesterday that he has since submitted a copy of the report to both the Public Service Commission and the Medical Council.

A c****ative Spencer chided the media for what he described as their focus only on the area of the investigation as it relates to Dr Pyne, instead of on the report in its entirety, which looks at operations at the hospital.

He was, however, adamant that the apology requested by Dr Pyne of him would not be forthcoming.

"I will not be apologising," said Spencer. "If he is guilty, then he should be the one to apologise. If not, then there is no need for an apology."

Meanwhile, Spencer said the solicitor general has advised that the committee set up by him (Spencer) had no power to make any determination of the rights and obligations of anyone as it was advisory and could only make recommendations to the minister.

The solicitor general also found, however, that there was no breach of natural justice and no evidence of bias on the part of the committee set up to do the review.

Furthermore, the committee, he said, provided an opportunity to the affected persons to participate in the investigation and they declined.

"...At the Medical Council he (Dr Pyne) can bring all the legal representation he wants to and there he will get the kind of justice he has been seeking," Spencer said.

In addition, the solicitor general indicated that the minister should consider the recommendations that were made in the report relating to the operations of the National Chest Hospital and determine whether they should be implemented.

"In respect of the recommendations relating to the operations of the hospital... we had moved with dispatch to address the issues raised in the report," Spencer said.

The health minister explained further that $60 million in refurbishing work was done at the hospital and the items for an outstanding order for US$55,000 will arrive as soon as possible.

The Regional Health Authority, he said, has also made some changes to the senior staff of the region, which it is hoped will bring a greater level of productivity and transparency to the business of the South East Regional Health Authority.

While not saying much more, Spencer admitted that a parish manager singled out in the report has also been transferred to St Catherine.

He said they are in the process of getting persons from the University Hospital of the West Indies to oversee operations at the hospital.