The effective parliamentary democracy implements the policies, programmes, procedures and processes that encourage optimal constituency service, effective departmental performance, thoroughly considered and well-formulated government policies, public responsiveness and accountability. This paper uses a case study of health administration to highlight some of the problems presented in seeking to establish parliamentary accountability in Jamaica. It argues that the ineffectiveness and lack of accountability in and of Parliament have flourished in a context of poor economic growth and deep political and social divides. Accountability requires more than ad-hoc institutional interventions; it depends on social and political change.