Work is set to commence on the $49-million expansion of the Brown’s Hall Primary School in St. Catherine, which will create much-needed space for the more than 350 students at the institution. Under the project, financed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), 12 new classrooms will be built, a multipurpose court, kitchen and tuck shop, paved driveway, and disability...

Residents of Clarendon are hailing the Ministry of Health’s implementation of the Public Sector Pharmacy Partner Programme in the parish. The initiative, which is being piloted over the next three months, aims to reduce the waiting time for medication at public hospitals and clinics. It is being spearheaded by the National Health Fund (NHF) and involves collaboration with select private-sector...

The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) has extended its surgery hours from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., to reduce the waiting time at the health facility. This forms part of the Ministry of Health’s overall plan to improve efficiency of healthcare delivery and reduce the waiting time for patients. The surgical interventions that are proposed for this extended...

The Ministry of Health plans to engage private-sector pharmacists to assist in delivering certain basic services provided at public healthcare institutions. Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says legislation to this end is being reviewed to determine the extent of the pharmacists’ involvement, “because we believe that you should be doing more than you are doing right now”. The...

Residents of Clarendon are hailing the Ministry of Health’s implementation of the Public Sector Pharmacy Partner Programme in the parish. The initiative, which is being piloted over the next three months, aims to reduce the waiting time for medication at public hospitals and clinics. It is being spearheaded by the National Health Fund (NHF) and involves collaboration with select private-sector...

With the Christmas and New Year’s festivities fast approaching, Jamaicans are being encouraged to eat healthy during the season. Persons, especially those living with non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, are being urged to watch what they consume, in order to maintain a balanced meal. A balanced meal should include items from the six food groups in the Caribbean...

The Ministry of Health has embarked on a pilot project to speed up the time persons can get their prescriptions filled. The Public Sector Pharmacy Partner Programme, which will be rolled out over the next three months, will see the Ministry, through the National Health Fund (NHF), partnering with a number of private pharmacies to facilitate speedier dispensing of medication...