Health Ministry to Establish Centres of Excellence

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has said the Government is looking to establish centres of excellence in the regional hospitals, as it seeks to improve access to quality health care for Jamaicans.

Dr. Ferguson, who was addressing the opening of the 10th Annual Caribbean Neurosciences Symposium and Workshop at the Montego Bay Conference Centre in St. James on January 27, said the initiative would be undertaken on a phased basis, through public/private partnerships.

[Related Story:  Health Ministry to establish four Centres of Excellence]

He said investment in the health sector is being encouraged, with a view to building capacity and offer health services to meet the highest international standards.

“In addition, the time has come to establish a creative incentive programme aimed at attracting and retaining health care providers in the system, including opportunities for training in various and varied specialisations,” he stated.

Meanwhile, he said the Ministry will be reviewing the no user fee policy to determine its impact on primary health care delivery.

“This review will determine the gaps in the system across a number of areas, including human resource, finance, provision of medical, nursing, pharmacy, allied health and the auxiliary health services, “he informed.

Dr. Ferguson said the Government is committed to a system of universal free health care, in keeping with the principle that access to basic health services should not be based on the ability to pay.

Dr. Ferguson stated that the Government continues to place priority on primary health care. “The neglect of primary health care is the Achilles heel of the health care sector, and we ignore this at our peril,” he said.

By Bryan Miller, JIS Reporter