Study Recommends 10-Year Development Plan for Health Care System

The creation of a 10-year Strategic Development Plan forms part of recommendations outlined in an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded technical study conducted on Jamaica’s health care system.

The study, which focused on the ‘Reform and Financing of Jamaica’s Health System’, aims to assist the Health Ministry to provide increased access by persons to affordable and quality health care.

This was noted by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during his 2014/15 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 1, under the theme: ‘Developing Systems of Excellence: Providing Quality Accessible Health Care’.

Other recommendations in the study, Dr. Ferguson said, include: developing an implementation strategy for primary health care renewal; and implementing demonstration projects to reduce the impact of non-communicable diseases.

He informed the House that a request for the provision of technical cooperation and funding support for the undertaking has been submitted to the IDB, adding that the Ministry should receive approval soon.

Dr. Ferguson reminded parliamentarians that the island’s four Primary Health Care Centres of Excellence are part of the government’s overall plan to strengthen Jamaica’s health systems.

These institutions have been established at the Claremont Health Centre, St. Ann; Santa Cruz Health Centre, St. Elizabeth; Darliston Health Centre, Westmoreland; and Isaac Barrant Health Centre, St. Thomas.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ferguson informed that $268 million in additional expenditure is earmarked to undertake phase two of the Centres of Excellence programme.

This phase, he indicated, will entail additional infrastructure improvements, and acquisition of equipment.

Financing is being provided by the National Health Fund (NHF).