The House of Representatives has approved amendments to the regulations governing the ban on smoking in public places, which were recommended by the Human Resource and Social Development Committee of Parliament. A report from the Committee was submitted to the Lower House for debate and approval, on January 28. In his contribution to the debate, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr....

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, is encouraging Jamaicans to read the nutritional content of food labels, in order to make healthier choices, and eliminate the risk of diet-related illnesses. He argued that once persons are able to identify the specific calorific value of the food they consume “this will make a significant impact in their lives”. The Minister...

Clarendon is to benefit from a number of projects, being carried out by the Ministry of Health at a cost of $121 million, which are at different stages of completion. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, at the official opening of the newly constructed James Hill Health Centre, in North Clarendon, on January 24. The projects...

Residents of James Hill and adjoining communities in North Clarendon are now benefiting from a new health centre, constructed at a cost of $41 million. Construction of the Type II facility, which was officially opened on January 24, by Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, was funded by the National Health Fund (NHF), under its Institutional Benefits Programme. In addition...

The Ministry of Health, this year, created systems of excellence, and advanced healthcare for all, an agenda emphasised by portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson in his Sectoral presentation in June. TOBACCO LEGISLATION In July the Government, led by the Ministry of Health, passed regulations to ban smoking in specified public places. By October, Minister Ferguson was able to report...

Health Minister the Honourable Dr. Fenton Ferguson called an emergency stakeholders meeting on Monday, December 30, to discuss security arrangements at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). Dr. Ferguson met with representatives of the Nurses Association (NAJ), the Medical Association of Jamaica and the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association along with representatives of the South East Regional Health Authority. The meeting was...

Approximately $50 million has been earmarked to begin implementation of the Electronic Medical Records System within the health sector, to replace the existing paper-based system. “Our first set of projects in terms of Electronic Medical Records will start in the first quarter of next year, and it will start with our regional hospitals and the four Centres of Excellence (for...