The Ministry of Health has presented a comprehensive report to Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the Cabinet regarding issues in the health sector that have dominated public discussion in recent weeks.
Prime Minister Holness confirmed that he has received the report.
Mahiri Stewart has that story.
At last week’s Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay, St. James, Prime Minister Andrew Holness revealed that he had ordered probes into recent incidents in the public health sector.
The leadership of the health ministry presented that report to Cabinet on Monday.
Prime Minister Holness says the report also covered ongoing efforts to enhance the public health sector.
Emphasising the urgency of the situation, Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated that no parent or child should have to grieve for their loved ones due to issues in our healthcare system.
He says his administration will continue to work diligently to ensure that the healthcare system meets the needs of citizens.
Mr. Holness has urged the team at the Ministry of Health to expedite the investigations into these cases.
The Prime Minister also highlighted instances of progress in the health sector in the form of several new hospitals under development.
He also made mention of enhanced equipment being installed in facilities as well as an increase in the number of specialist doctors.
The report provided an update on the status of the country’s ventilators in light of a call by Opposition Spokesperson on Health, Dr. Alfred Dawes.
Dr. Dawes alleged that ventilators donated to Jamaica during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said numbered 105, were unaccounted for.
The Prime Minister says an equipment audit revealed that prior to the pandemic, Jamaica had approximately 35 ventilators.
The Prime Minister says today, Jamaica has more than 1-hundred and 20 ventilators deployed across the health sector.
This is something he says marks a substantial improvement in the country’s respiratory healthcare capacity.
The Prime Minister’s statement ends with his claim that the government remains dedicated to building a world class, robust, and responsive healthcare system for every Jamaican.
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