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Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that the development of a viable health tourism industry is an integral part of the government's vision for the country's health care system. "Jamaica has an unrivalled opportunity to develop a thriving health tourism and wellness industry. Our location to the North American market, language, climate, and the outlay of our...

The Ministry of Health and Environment is working to develop its e-health infrastructure. Making his contribution in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives today (June 3), Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, said that "e-health provides an appropriate response to the optimal use of our scarce resources." E-health is a healthcare practice, which is supported by...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has informed that under phase two of the Jamaica/Cuba Eye Care Programme, some 12,000 persons will be screened. "One thousand and sixty-six persons have been screened in St. Thomas and 194 persons have been selected to undergo surgery in Cuba. Four hundred and fifty eight persons from that parish are awaiting surgery," Mr....

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has informed that over 1.8 million claims for prescriptions using the National Health Fund (NHF) card, were paid during the year. "The total cost to patients for these prescriptions was $2.2 billion, of which the NHF paid $1.3 billion, 59 per cent of the beneficiaries' cost. Hypertension accounted for 44 per cent and...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has announced a $1 million training programme, specifically designed to undertake short term training of a cadre of workers who will support the team of highly skilled health workers who are in the system. He also pointed out that the Ministry would train over 500 of these persons at a cost of $100...

A National Health Workforce Development Plan is to be completed this financial year to provide the strategic and policy frameworks for the training, recruitment, remuneration and retention of health workers in the public health sector. This was announced today (June 3), by Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer during his contribution in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that the Ministry will be putting a monitoring team in place to assist the country with meeting the health-related United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). "We will establish a monitoring team in the Ministry of Health and Environment to track the performance of the goals and to provide consistent focus and...

The Government is moving to improve renal dialysis services to assist patients suffering from renal illnesses to have greater access to facilities and treatment. Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, in his contribution to the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 3, said that existing public units at the University Hospital of the West Indies...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that efforts will be made to utilize more biological control measures in the vector control programme, in order to make it more environmentally friendly. "A strategic shift will be made to place greater dependence on biological control measures; allowing the Ministry to deliver a more environmentally friendly and sustainable programme," the...

Minister of Health and Environment, Rudyard Spencer, has said that the Ministry has plans to fully develop a community-based mental health service. Making his presentation in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate, at Gordon House, today (June 3), Mr. Spencer said the Ministry was working to enable access to all levels of health care closer to communities. "It is a fundamental right...

The Ministry of Health and Environment is appealing to parents and guardians with children between the ages 1 and 6 years to ensure that these children are fully immunized against measles. Children who have never been immunized or only partly immunized must be taken to the nearest health centre or their family doctor immediately. With the recent confirmation of a...

I rise to make my maiden presentation as Minister of Health and Environment at a time of great challenge and change in the global and local arenas. But Mr. Speaker, we in this Honourable House are the beneficiaries of a legacy that has been passed on by some of the most outstanding men and women who have served in these...