Minister Says Healthcare Changes Will Not Affect Vulnerable

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says the government will introduce a new policy of universal free health care at primary care facilities, but assured that it has no intention to deny access to vulnerable patients at the secondary and tertiary levels.   

"It is a shift from what now obtains, which is universal free primary, secondary and tertiary health care, but let me make it clear that the government has no intention…of denying access to high risk and vulnerable patients, such as our children, the disabled, and our senior citizens," Dr. Ferguson stated.

He said what the government is very clear about “is that those who can pay must pay", noting that the Ministry will develop a means test to identify those who cannot afford to pay.

The Minister was speaking on Friday (January 20) at the opening of a Ministry of Health SWOT Analysis workshop, at the Medallion Hall Hotel, Kingston.

The SWOT analysis exercise was requested by him, to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses and external opportunities and threats affecting the health sector in Jamaica. The results will help him to determine how to proceed with crafting new policies and programmes.

The Minister said that the process of halting free health care at secondary and tertiary level health facilities would not be immediate, but will take place over a phased period.

"We are very clear that we will need to have the necessary mechanisms in place that will allow for the kind of transition that is needed. I do not intend to disrupt the health sector by any kind of policy shift that in the short term would create problems," he explained.

“What we believe is that we should never pursue a policy that, in the long run, would compromise the quality of health care for our people,” Dr. Ferguson stated.     

By Athaliah Reynolds, JIS Reporter