Are there hospitals in jamaica

The epidemiological pattern of injuries in Jamaica differs from that seen in most institutions in the United States, where motor vehicle crashes account for most trauma admissions. Patients admitted in developed countries who are victims of motor vehicle crashes are usually more severely injured than are patients with intentional injury in our country.

This is supported by the finding that the local cases have a mean injury severity score of 6. Of this, 3. Health care in Jamaica is financed by the government of Jamaica, by fee for service, and by private health insurance. There is no national health care plan.

Initially, access to government-supported public hospitals was free. Recently, because of the underfunding of the health sector, it has become necessary to charge fees based on the ability to pay, but no patient is denied care because of the inability to pay.

This situation is unsatisfactory, and the public hospitals continue to be without adequate financial resources. Upgrading and replacement of equipment is slow and often depends on philanthropy from the private sector. A national health fund is expected to be launched to help pay for the cost of drugs for patients having long-standing diagnoses of chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and arthritis.

A national health insurance scheme has been proposed, which should assist in recovering the costs of hospitalization, especially for the indigent. Surgical options have become increasingly complex and sophisticated, but in most hospitals there is a need for well-trained general surgeons with additional experience in the care of the trauma patient, especially during the acute phase.

With the support of adequate numbers of nurses, some with graduate training, and the regular availability of basic laboratory and imaging services, it will be possible to provide the level of surgical care for the Jamaican people appropriate to our needs and size. Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience.

By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy Continue. View Large Download. Jamaica is the largest and most populous country in the English-speaking Caribbean. Save Preferences. Privacy Policy Terms of Use.

This Issue. Citations View Metrics. Twitter Facebook More LinkedIn. Special Article. October 1, Hospital facilities. Surgical disease. Graduate surgical training.

Health care financing. Access your subscriptions. Access through your institution. The Minister also plans to build a new Western Child and Adolescent Hospital, in addition to developing more sophisticated healthcare technology. The agency has established a Health Promotion program that works to provide quality health services to babies, adolescents and young mothers. The two goals of this program are to enhance institutional capacity to deliver effective health services and to boost the access of adolescents to these health services.

Healthcare in Jamaica is lacking in many areas, but the country is doing continuous work to enhance health facilities and services. This progress shows that the country should see improvement in the future.

Blog - Latest News. Health Problems in Jamaica Jamaica has many health issues that require an effective healthcare system. Considering this Third World country boasts over 1, people above the age of one would have to say that the medical care throughout the island is more than adequate.

Health care in Jamaica is free to all citizens and legal residents at government hospitals and clinics. This includes prescription drugs. One of the drawbacks to free health care is long lines with no appointments accepted by the physicians. There have been stories in the newspaper of people going to the hospital early in the morning and leaving late in the day not having seen a doctor. Prescriptions are not easy to obtain. I have seen perhaps 20 — 30 people gathered at a hospital pharmacy two hours prior to its opening.

If the person really needs an unavailable drug they must go to a public drugstore and pay for it or do without. Private doctors and clinics are widely available as long as you have the funds or insurance to cover the cost. I also procured medical insurance in Jamaica. Medical insurance is available from several different companies with one being the leader in the field. Something I must point out to older people moving to Jamaica; health insurance CANNOT be purchased if you are 65 years or older unless you have been previously enrolled before your 65 th birthday in a Jamaican plan.

Within the first two weeks of living in my new home I came down with pneumonia. My neighbor took me to her doctor which is one of the many physicians who have small offices scattered throughout Montego Bay. This means we can better serve people who depend on Aetna International and InterGlobal to meet their health and wellness needs.

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