Shadow Health spokesman Michael Dunkley has slammed Health Minister Nelson Bascome for his lacklustre response to damning leaked reports on drug treatment.

Independent reviews sanctioned by the National Drug Commission highlighted problems such as inexperienced staff, inadequate and outdated treatment and a lack of research, communication and leadership in some of the Island's drug agencies - despite the $23 million spent on drug issues each year.

Asked about the damning reports by overseas experts Dr. Jacqueline Butler and Dr. Alan Ogborne, Health Minister Nelson Bascome attacked the leaking of confidential documents.

When asked about the substance of the reports Mr. Bascome said problems would be fixed when the National Drug Commission appointed a new Chief Executive Officer who could then appoint new staff to tackle problems.

Mr. Bascome hinted that current acting CEO Dr. Don Philip might be given the post full-time but said it was a matter for the NDC board.

The Government-funded body has been without a treatment officer for months and it lost its chairman at the turn of the year when Malcolm Butterfield was axed.

Mr. Bascome said many of the Island's drug agencies were doing a good job and Government was encouraging the certification of counsellors and working with agencies to bring them up to speed.

Last night his opposite number Mr. Dunkley said Government was more concerned about covering things up rather than tackling the important issues.

He said: "The systems is on the verge of collapse. The minister needs to come right out and say how he is going to protect the taxpayers.

"He can't continue to bury his head in the sand and ride out the storm."

He said Mr. Bascome had failed with housing and was now failing to tackle drugs - two key issues in the forthcoming election.

Mr. Dunkley said: "Will the Premier try to save the PLP by putting people in place to get things done. In business these people would have been replaced. Why see one failure after another?

He said Mr. Bascome needed to get together with key players in the drug treatment agency to sort out a way forward.

But he said many in the field had said Mr. Bascome's department was not helping matters.

And Mr. Dunkley claimed the Health Minister was trying to pressure the Fair Havens board into keeping its women's only drug rehab centre open - even though it was attracting so few clients they wanted it to close.

He also condemned Government for being slow to announce the new NDC chairman and said they were finding it hard to find someone who would tow the line.