The Vision for Health 2030
This Vision for Health 2030 is Jamaica’s 10-year strategic plan outlining the national…
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The Health Sector Plan is more than a blueprint for healthcare excellence – it’s a strategy for building a healthier, stronger Jamaica. This vision of optimal health for all aligns with Jamaica’s overarching goals for growth and development. By empowering Jamaicans to lead healthier lives, we’ll create a thriving environment that fuels the nation’s prosperity and secures a brighter future for all.
Health Care Affordability
The cost of healthcare has long been a barrier for many Jamaicans, impacting both private and public sector services. The introduction of user fees in the public sector only heightened this issue, leading some to forgo necessary care due to financial constraints.
The 2004 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions revealed a stark statistic – 19.0% of those who needed care couldn’t afford it, despite the lower average cost of J$489.40 in the public sector. This highlights the financial barriers that exist, even within the public system.
The removal of user fees since 2008 has been a positive step, leading to increased demand for public health services. While this initially strained supplies, ongoing efforts are addressing this issue. With better resource management, we’re seeing a healthier balance between demand and availability. This progress shows the potential for making healthcare more affordable and accessible for all Jamaicans, aligning with the nation’s broader goals for prosperity and well-being.
Resilience & Adaptability
Despite facing challenges, Jamaica’s healthcare system shows remarkable resilience and adaptability. The country has made significant strides in combating infectious diseases through powerful vaccination campaigns and public health initiatives. Thanks to partnerships with international organizations and donors, vital medical supplies and technology upgrades have been secured.
The private healthcare sector also plays an important role. While primarily available in urban areas, private hospitals and clinics offer specialized services for those who can afford them. These facilities provide alternatives for patients seeking quick care and personalized attention. However, the high cost of private healthcare means it remains out of reach for most Jamaicans, underscoring the importance of strengthening the public sector.
Programs and Projects On The Way
Jamaica is on a growth incline of improving the economy, with the right tools and resources the Country will become more sustainable and giving back to the locals, providing wellness services will only benefit the whole Country
Project Code Care
Project Code Care intends to reduce the backlog of surgeries through the engagement of specialist nurses and support staff in the form of nursing missions to support the nursing cadre on short-term engagements of seven or 14 days.
Nursing missions will be engaged utilising contacts within the Diaspora and other friendly support personnel. This expansion of the number of surgical teams through the Project CODE CARE programme will allow at least 2,000 additional surgeries in health facilities.
A total of 10 nurses per week will be targeted under project CODE CARE for 400 nurses during the 12 months intervention. Nurses will be targeted from The United States of America; Canada; The United Kingdom where there is a strong Diaspora presence.
Operating Theatre nurses and Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) nurses / Recovery Room Nurses are the types of healthcare professionals who are being targeted.
View Project Code Care FAQ Leaflet
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The National HIV/STI Programme (NHP)
Jamaica’s HIV landscape includes features of both a generalized and concentrated epidemic. This accounts for a low in HIV prevalence among the adult population of 1.7% to a high among men who have sex with men (MSM) of 32%. Currently, there is an estimated 32,000 persons living with HIV (PLHIV), half of which is unaware of their status. Since January 1982 and December 2010, twenty seven thousand two hundred and seventy two cases (27,272) of HIV were reported to the Ministry of Health (AIDS Report, 2010).
High risk behaviour such as early sexual debut, multiple sexual partners, high levels of transactional sex, gender inequalities, inadequate condom use and homophobia continue to fuel the transmission of HIV and STIs, (MoH, 2010). The HIV epidemic is also closely tied to poverty and related development issues, including the slow rate of economic growth, high levels of unemployment, low educational attainment especially among males, and crime and violence. Moreover, the epidemic threatens national productivity because the majority of cases occur in the reproductive and working age groups.
As such, the national HIV response focuses equally on preventing the further spread of the epidemic, supporting better care for those infected and affected by HIV, and building capacity and resilience to withstand the impact of AIDS through several priority areas. These include:
- Expansion of prevention programmes especially among most at risk populations (MARPs) including direct and targetted risk reduction messages, access to testing and peer counselling.
- Strengthening of positive health dignity and prevention programmes particularly among most at risk populations including increased care and support for adolescents living with HIV and AIDS.
- Scaling up of HIV testing, particularly among most at risk populations and hospital admissions in order to identify persons most in need of treatment and delay progression to AIDS.
- Scaling up HIV management and emphasis on care and support.
- Improved management of STIs.
- Continued capacity building for stakeholders on monitoring and evaluation through widespread training and use of technical assistance.
- Increased dissemination and utilization of data for programme planning and understanding the epidemic.
- Improved understanding of the context of stigma and discrimination through national surveys; expansion of the system for reporting and redress to reduce stigma and discrimination in all settings.
- Increased advocacy among high level leadership for improved socio-economic policy initiatives and legislative changes to reduce vulnerability to HIV including policy development in various sectors; and
- Strengthen partnerships and communication mechanisms with key stakeholders in the national response.
Health Systems Strengthening Programme
The Ministry of Health and Wellness has been provided with financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the project, ‘Support for Health Systems Strengthening Programme for the Prevention and Care Management of NCDs’.
The programme has as its objectives to ‘improve the health of Jamaica’s population by strengthening comprehensive policies for the prevention of NCD risk factors and for the implementation of a chronic care model with improved access to strengthened and integrated primary and hospital services networks that provide more efficient and higher quality care’.
The programme is being implemented at a time when 1 in 3 Jamaicans have hypertension; 1 in 8 are living with diabetes; and 1 in 2 are overweight or obese – a known risk factor for NCDs, including cancer and respiratory disease.
Further, 4 out of every 10 Jamaicans are expected to suffer from a mental illness over the course of their life time while the suicide rate is approximately 2.1 / 100,000 with statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force showing between 47 and 56 deaths per year due to suicide over the last three years.
Mental Health Program
Mental health is crucial for personal well-being, healthy relationships, and societal prosperity. When people can’t access or afford the care they need, it creates a ripple effect – impacting families, communities, and economies. Mental illness leads to higher rates of absenteeism and reduced work performance, imposing a significant economic burden.
That’s why mental health is a growing priority, reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With timely intervention and effective treatment, people with mental illness can lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Recognizing this, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) partnered with key organizations to develop an investment case for mental health in Jamaica. This project aims to provide evidence and guidance to strengthen Jamaica’s mental health system and improve outcomes for all.