Fenton Ferguson
Fenton Ferguson is a Jamaican politician and physician who served as the Minister of Health from 2012 to 2016. He is known for his role during a significant public health crisis involving the deaths of newborns in Jamaican hospitals, which led to intense scrutiny of the health system. Ferguson faced criticism for his handling of the situation during the 2015 'dead babies' scandal, which highlighted issues of overcrowding, staff shortages, and inadequate medical equipment in maternity hospitals.
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Recent news mentions
Former MP Fenton Ferguson was by Shaw’s side during the election campaign.
‘A long time coming’ | Lead Stories
Jamaica· 2025-09-08
In 2016, veteran PNP politician Dr Fenton Ferguson secured the seat by a narrow margin of 789 votes over the JLP’s Delano Seiveright.
Shaw unseats Charles in Eastern showdown | NewsJamaica· 2025-09-04
Former health minister, the PNP's Dr Fenton Ferguson, referenced the current deaths while speaking at a political event.
Tufton says politicisation of deaths of premature babies at VJH unfortunate | NewsJamaica· 2025-07-05
Then Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson said he had been kept in the dark by his technocrats during that time.
Michael Abrahams | Dead baby scandal déjà vu (Part 2) | CommentaryJamaica· 2025-07-01
Tufton criticized the insensitive comments made by the then minister of health, Dr Fenton Ferguson.
Tufton accuses Opposition of ‘playing on people’s emotions’ over dead babies | Lead StoriesJamaica· 2025-07-01
Dr. Fenton Ferguson faced criticism during his tenure as minister when some very sick babies died at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital.
Ronald Thwaites | Adding value | CommentaryJamaica· 2025-06-30
Ferguson controversially said the newborns were 'not babies in the real sense' and was later reassigned.
‘Hypocrite or Coward?’ – Golding, Dawes recall Holness saying he heard cries of dead babies amid new spike | NewsJamaica· 2025-06-29Dr Fenton Ferguson was relieved of his position as health minister in the People’s National Party administration.
Dead babies déjà vu | Lead StoriesJamaica· 2025-06-27Then Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson was heavily criticised for his handling of the 2015 scandal.
UPDATE | CMO confirms 'increase' in baby deaths at Victoria Jubilee Hospital; rules out infection outbreak | NewsJamaica· 2025-06-27