Government Allocates $3.3 Billion to Combat Preventable Illnesses

The Government has allocated $3.3 billion to combat preventable illnesses under its ‘Prevention and Care Management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)’ Project.

Details of the initiative are provided in the 2024/2025 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

The project is geared towards contributing to the improvement of the health of the country’s population by strengthening comprehensive policies for the prevention of NCDs, risk factors, and improved access to an updated integrated system.

Targets anticipated over the new fiscal year include the organisation and consolidation of the integrated health services networks, commencement of the construction of the redevelopment of the Spanish Town Hospital in St. Catherine; construction of the St. Jago Park, Greater Portmore and Old Harbour health centres; and completion of relocation activities at the May Pen and St. Ann’s Bay Hospitals, St. Ann’s Bay Health Centre, and Brown’s Town Health Centre.

It will also facilitate the procurement of dental imaging equipment for St. Jago, Greater Portmore and St. Ann’s Bay Health centres.

Spending from the project will be available for the approval of the manual on Chronic Care Model Pathway and the policy framework for patient self-management, to complete implementation of electronic health records in 12 facilities, and the commencement of the fourth Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey.

Achievements under the project up to December 2023 are designs of nine health facilities completed; corrective works to the St. Ann’s Bay Regional, May Pen and Spanish Town Hospitals completed; laundry equipment for the St. Ann’s Bay, May Pen and Spanish Town Hospitals installed and commissioned; delivery of medical equipment at the Spanish Town hospital; bridge house gas station installed; delivery of medical equipment to five health centres commenced, and relocation at the Spanish Town Hospital completed.

Under the programme, implementation of the electronic health records (EHR) completed at the May Pen Hospital, implementation of managed network services for 105 health centres, change management and transition plan developed, policy framework for patient self-management developed, and the TeleECHO programme piloted in six health facilities, and equipment distributed and installed.