The Ministry of Health and Wellness is moving to digitise the pharmaceutical product registration process during the new financial year, which begins April 1. The aim is to ensure greater efficiency in the processing of dossiers submitted to obtain marketing approval, by identifying missing documentation in real-time during online applications. Currently, almost 70 per cent of dossiers are delayed due...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says Jamaica remains hopeful for a new arrangement with Cuba, as the existing Cuban Medical Mission comes to an end. “We continue to be hopeful that some agreement… some changes can be made to the programme,” he said. The Prime Minister was speaking during his contribution to the 2026/27 Budget Debate in...

Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham, has voiced concern over the escalating impact of violence on the parish’s healthcare system, cautioning that the preventable issue is placing a heavy strain on the services delivered to residents. She highlighted the issue recently while addressing the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation in Savanna-la-Mar, noting that incidents of...

The Port Maria Hospital in St. Mary has been recertified baby-friendly, joining 12 other facilities islandwide committed to promoting breastfeeding as the norm and optimising newborn care. The recertification was made official during a ceremony on the Hospital grounds on Friday (March 13). The hospital was first certified baby-friendly in 2019 and must be recertified every three years. The delay...

The National Health Fund (NHF) has added four new chronic conditions for financial support – heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and bladder cancer. This has brought the total number of conditions now covered to 28. Heart failure affects an estimated 117,500 Jamaicans and continues to drive increasing hospitalisations each year. By providing subsidies for...

Residents in Westmoreland are being encouraged to make greater use of primary healthcare services, as several initiatives are being implemented to improve access and reduce congestion at the hospital. Medical Officer of Health for the parish, Dr. Marcia Graham, made the appeal while addressing the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation meeting in Savanna-la-Mar on March 12. She pointed out that extended hours...

Residents of Westmoreland are being urged to embrace preventive health practices, such as colorectal cancer screening and healthier dietary choices, as part of ongoing efforts to lessen the parish’s burden of chronic diseases. Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Marcia Graham, made the call while addressing the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting in Savanna-la-Mar on March 12. She highlighted that March...