Health Ministry Provides Funds For Health Research | RJR News

The Ministry of Health & Wellness is providing close to $48 million for health research, aimed at improving health outcomes and strengthening evidence-based decision-making within the sector.

On Friday, five candidates were awarded the combined investment under the Ministry’s Research for Wellness Fund.

The Ministry says the Research for Wellness Fund was launched by Health & Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton during his Sectoral Debate presentation in 2019, as part of the continued commitment to fostering innovation, scientific inquiry, and locally driven solutions to Jamaica’s health challenges.

The five funded research projects will focus on critical public health issues, including mental health, breast cancer, air pollution, and wellness among persons living with noncommunicable diseases and their associated risk factors.

These risk factors include tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets, and air pollution.

Dr Tufton, speaking at the awards ceremony, noted that the selection process was highly competitive, and the projects  demonstrated both scientific merit and relevance to Jamaica’s public health priorities.