Jamaica will host the inaugural International Spinal Injury Symposium, slated for The Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston, on December 2. The event, to be staged under the auspices of the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), will feature presentations from some of the foremost authorities on the subject. They include Professor Michael Fehlings and Professor Charles Fisher from Canada. Professor Fehlings is...

The Government’s development of a 10-year Strategic Plan for the public health sector is expected to be finalised within the next few months. This was disclosed by Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, at Monday’s (November 26) official opening of the $860-million National Linear Cancer Treatment Centre at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kingston. He noted that the Plan articulates...

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) is advocating for State resources to be channelled into interventions that discourage the use of cannabis (ganja), particularly by the society’s youth. This, according to Executive Director, Michael Tucker, is imperative against the background of what he describes as an emerging worrying development, consequent on decriminalisation of possession of two ounces of the...

The Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) on Monday (November 26), officially opened its renovated wellness centre in Kingston. The facility will enable more Jamaicans to access HIV prevention, treatment, and support services in a modern and spacious environment. Additionally, it will house JASL’s head office operations, comprising the organisation’s administrative, finance and programmes departments. Speaking at the official opening...

Cancer care delivery in the public health system has been further boosted with Monday’s (Nov. 26) opening of Jamaica’s second National Linear Cancer Treatment Centre. The $860 million facility, constructed at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kingston, was formally opened by Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton. Financing was provided by the National Health Fund (NHF); Culture, Health, Arts, Sports...

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is hailing the success of the Public-Private Sector Pharmacy Partner Programme, under which nearly 100,000 prescriptions have already been processed. The Minister said the Government is satisfied that the programme is working and that the public is being served in an efficient manner where “the benefits are tremendous.” “Gone are the days...

Health Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says the final draft of the National Health Insurance Plan is being prepared for submission to Cabinet. “We held a series of consultations with a range of stakeholders. We still may do a few more, but ultimately, Cabinet will have to approve it; then there is the matter of how you operationalise it....