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Spencer defends Jamaica's health policy
MINISTER of Health Rudyard Spencer has gone on the defensive following a survey which found that 88 per cent of doctors feel that health policy in Jamaica needs to change.
Speaking in a statement Spencer took issue with the finding that more than a quarter of doctors want to end the free health care system, which was implemented by the current Jamaica Labour Party administration.
“We need to focus on issues such as expanding public/private partnerships having regard to the fact that most Jamaicans have traditionally preferred to access care in the private health sector, improving our systems to ensure that the scarce resources are properly secured and accounted for and to strengthen accountability throughout the system,” he said.
He defended the abolition of user fees saying that the previous system of user fees with a system of exemptions was a failure as it had been outside of Jamaica.
He quoted the 2007 Jamaica Survey of Living Condition, which found that almost 34 per cent of Jamaicans reported that they could not afford health care at that time.
Spencer added that, “common sense dictates that the figure would increase given the economic hardships that Jamaicans have been experiencing since the global financial crisis which followed a food and oil crises. This situation would pose serious implications for the development agenda of the country.”
Government will continue to review policy and remains open for dialogue with health professionals, he said.
“I have always sought to engage health workers in an open and frank manner and I am prepared to continue this dialogue within the context of a no user fees regime which this Government deems as the best policy framework within which to advance the country’s human development agenda,” said the minister.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...-health-policy
MINISTER of Health Rudyard Spencer has gone on the defensive following a survey which found that 88 per cent of doctors feel that health policy in Jamaica needs to change.
Speaking in a statement Spencer took issue with the finding that more than a quarter of doctors want to end the free health care system, which was implemented by the current Jamaica Labour Party administration.
“We need to focus on issues such as expanding public/private partnerships having regard to the fact that most Jamaicans have traditionally preferred to access care in the private health sector, improving our systems to ensure that the scarce resources are properly secured and accounted for and to strengthen accountability throughout the system,” he said.
He defended the abolition of user fees saying that the previous system of user fees with a system of exemptions was a failure as it had been outside of Jamaica.
He quoted the 2007 Jamaica Survey of Living Condition, which found that almost 34 per cent of Jamaicans reported that they could not afford health care at that time.
Spencer added that, “common sense dictates that the figure would increase given the economic hardships that Jamaicans have been experiencing since the global financial crisis which followed a food and oil crises. This situation would pose serious implications for the development agenda of the country.”
Government will continue to review policy and remains open for dialogue with health professionals, he said.
“I have always sought to engage health workers in an open and frank manner and I am prepared to continue this dialogue within the context of a no user fees regime which this Government deems as the best policy framework within which to advance the country’s human development agenda,” said the minister.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...-health-policy
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