Nine More Private Doctors Engaged Under Partnership To Combat NCDS
By: , February 2, 2022
Photo: Donald De La Haye
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (third left), with (from left) Dr. Tana Ricketts-Roomes, from the Willowdene Family Medical Centre, St. Catherine; Dr. Matthew Bird from Epione Medical in Kingtson; Dr. Renee McKoy from the St. Ann-based Burlington Medical Centre; and Dr. Rupert Riley from Deluxe Medical Centre, Kingston. Occasion was Tuesday’s (February 1) virtual signing ceremony for engagement of additional doctors under the Public-Private Partnership for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Photo: Donald De La Haye
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (left), observes while Dr. Renee McKoy from the St. Ann-based Burlington Medical Centre, signs the Public-Private Partnership for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) agreement, at a ceremony for the engagement of additional doctors under the initiative, which was held virtually on Tuesday (February 1).
Photo: Donald De La Haye
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, addresses Tuesday’s (February 1) virtual signing ceremony for engagement of additional doctors under the Public-Private Partnership for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).The Full Story
More Jamaicans living with chronic illnesses will benefit from treatment and care under the Public-Private Partnership for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), following engagement of nine additional doctors.
They bring to 13 the number of private practitioners participating in the initiative, which is targeted at public-sector patients living with diabetes and hypertension, who have been referred from health centres.
The objective is to reduce the exposure of these persons to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Speaking at the virtual signing ceremony on Tuesday (February 1), Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said that expansion of the pool of private practitioners “signals the intention of the Ministry to increase access to healthcare services and provide adequate resources by which patients can seek comprehensive treatment and care”.
“This is despite the challenges faced by the health sector due to COVID-19,” he noted.
In November 2020, Minister Tufton launched the pilot of the partnership with four private doctors.
The initiative has the benefit of providing routine clinical management of non-COVID-19 clients with diabetes and hypertension, assisting in restoring comprehensive healthcare delivery in the public health system and easing the burden on the public health centres, while focusing resources on critical cases, particularly in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Minister Tufton said that expansion of the programme will result in shorter waiting time for patients to receive healthcare. Beneficiaries will have free access to private doctors and select services, and private care close to home.
“It is an attempt to pull together both the public and private sectors to give the most efficient service to Jamaicans who need it, in an area where they need it most, which is the NCD response,” Dr. Tufton said.
“Collaboration and partnerships augur well and optimise the efficiency of the response to treating with the population that we serve,” he added.
The 13 private doctors cover five parishes across the four health regions. To participate in this initiative, patients who qualify can contact or visit any of the 15 participating health centres.
In the South East Region, patients can visit the Olympic Gardens Health Centre, Hagley Park Health Centre, Nanny Ville Health Centre, Slipe Pen Road Comprehensive Health Centre, Rolling Town Health Centre, Denham Town Heath Centre, Waterford Health Centre, Cristian Pen Health Centre, Sydenham Health Centre and the St. Jago Park Health Centre.
In the North East Region, patients can visit the Browns Town Health Centre, Run Away Bay Health Centre and the St. Ann’s Bay Health Centre, while in the Western Region, patients can visit the White House Health Centre and in the Southern Region patients can visit the May Pen Health Centre.