More Doctors to Join Health Sector this Year

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says that the Ministry is moving to boost human capital within the health sector with the addition of a number of trained personnel this year.

“We are boosting the health workforce with 68 new Cuban trained doctors, who just returned to Jamaica. We also look with great anticipation for those young doctors, who will be graduating from the University of the West Indies (UWI).  So, a combined force of those doctors returning from Cuba and those coming out of our local university that will be of great help to us,” he stated.

Dr. Ferguson, who was addressing a Paediatric Renal Conference and Workshop at the Couples San Souci Hotel in Ocho Rios this morning (October  6), also informed that six Cuban trained dental surgeons will be joining the health workforce.

He said that in addition to the returning Jamaicans, there are “persons coming in under the agreement with Cuba, who are really to close the gap.  We are bringing in some pathologists because the turnaround time for specimens is much too long now.”

He added that there is also a need to improve and modernize laboratory services “so that things can be done in a timely manner, even as there is a move to improve the human capital.”

Dr. Ferguson said that the move to boost personnel fits in with the process to develop centres of excellence at the primary health care level.  He said that work is ongoing on four facilities, which are intended to be model institutions across the regional health authorities.

The four centres of excellences will be located at the Issac Barrant Health Centre in St. Thomas; Santa Cruz Health Centre, St. Elizabeth; Claremont Health Centre, St. Ann; and Darliston Health Centre, Westmoreland.