#Kingston, May 27, 2019 – Jamaica – Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says the Government is on a mission to ensure that all persons have access to timely healthcare.
Speaking at the 72nd World Health
Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 22, the Minister said although Jamaica
has to face the triple burden of responding to communicable diseases, non-communicable
diseases (NCDs) and natural disasters, and where public health expenditure takes
3.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), the Administration is committed
to achieving a healthy society.
“This means that our entire population
has timely access to a package of quality services that is promotive,
protective, preventative, curative, rehabilitative and palliative,” the
Minister told the forum.
Dr. Tufton said the Government has placed great
emphasis on enhancing the primary care programme, and advancing a strategy for
healthcare “that focuses the population on wellness and taking responsibility”.
He stressed that the policy is aimed at
triggering a “drastic change” in the mindset away from dependence on treatment
and curative services, adding that a 10-year plan that has been embarked on has
goals of safeguarding access to equitable, comprehensive healthcare, health
promotion and infrastructure improvement.
The Minister told the forum that Jamaica’s
reform of its primary healthcare system is taking into account the
epidemiological and demographic profiles, by enhancing the capacity of health
centres, extending opening hours, and expanding the services offered.
“Jamaica is accelerating towards a
truly integrated health service delivery network with the patient at the centre,
and utilising the Life Stage Approach, strengthening primary healthcare, while
at the same time improving secondary care services, breaking ground for new
facilities, decreasing waiting times,
upgrading infrastructure and providing new equipment,” the Minister
outlined.
The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), and is convened annually in Geneva. It is attended by delegations from the organisation’s member states, and focuses on a specific health agenda. The forum commenced on May 20 and will run until May 28.
Contact: Garfield L. Angus
Release: JIS
Photo Caption: Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, addresses the 72nd World Health Assembly, in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 22.
Photo contributed