Cabinet Approves Primary Health Care Policy

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says Cabinet has approved a policy that should further boost Jamaica’s primary health care system.

Speaking at a Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS)-sponsored power breakfast at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay, St. James, on June 16, Dr. Ferguson said the policy’s development is consistent with the administration’s focus on the continued renewal of primary health care provisions.

“Therefore, what we are about to do now is to create configurations that will change the way we do business at the primary care level, with the expectation that we will ease the pressure on our secondary care system, our hospital system, where it is costing us more in relation to what we do (in overall healthcare delivery),” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ferguson underscored the role which the Jamaican Diaspora can play to significantly boost the Government’s healthcare programme, through the provision of resources and other support.

Dr. Ferguson said while there has been a significant increase in Government’s budgetary support for the health sector, shortfalls remain which need to be filled. This, he argued, makes the Diaspora’s support even more important.

“This year in particular, our overall health budget has increased by 18 per cent, and we now have a $50-billion budget for health; but even with that, there is a gap. We have absolutely no doubt that the Diaspora remains one of the greatest assets that this country can look to at this time,” he emphasised.

Dr. Fenton pointed out that the health sector remains pivotal to the country’s attainment of developed country status, under the long-term National Development Plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica.

The power breakfast formed past of activities for this year’s sixth staging of the Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, from June 13 to 18, at the Montego By Convention Centre, under the theme: ‘Jamaica and the Diaspora: Linking for Growth and Prosperity’.