The Jamaican healthcare system is at the center of attention after an Instagram video of an American citizen criticizing a local hospital went viral on social media.
According to the woman’s Instagram account, she was in Jamaica for a wedding and was admitted to Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay but was reportedly not allowed visitors.
In her post to Instagram, which is a video recorded inside the hospital a few days ago, she attempted to access paper towel because she had been asking for toilet paper but was not given any. She also claimed the hospital did not have drinking water or call lights.
“They keep sending different doctors in saying different things. The first night, I begged for a wet paper towel to put in my mouth because my mouth was so dry, I could no longer swallow, my throat was closing up, and I have had trouble breathing,” the caption accompanying the video read.
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She also claimed that she had not been washed and had no way of contacting the nurses on staff for assistance.
“I couldn’t use my voice until last night/this morning, so I had to tap my nails on the rail to get the girls in the beds around me to call the nurse to help me,” the post continued.
The woman, who shared publicly in the post that she lost her baby, said that she was bleeding and no one was trying to give her diapers.
In the video, she was heard repeatedly asking a nurse for diapers and toilet paper, and the nurse pointed out that the hospital doesn’t provide “personal things” for patients.
The woman said she “hasn’t had any attitude until they tried to deny me paper towels to wipe myself with.” The video has gotten over 100,000 views on the woman’s profile and has been shared by hundreds of users.
Health Minister responds
In a response to the viral video, Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton wrote on social media platform X: “I have asked for an update on this matter to understand context & circumstances; Toilet paper is always provided for patients; Sometimes provided on request due to patients taking away once placed in bathrooms; It is against hospital policy to do recordings in hospitals.”
In a follow-up post, he shared a video of a local health warehouse, where cases of domestic tissue was being stocked, saying that there was no shortage of supplies.
“Current situation at the Western Regional Health Authority warehouse in Montego Bay – over 1700 cases of domestic tissue in stock – 1500 cases on order. These are distributed weekly to ALL hospitals- no shortage,” his post read.
