Jamaica’s Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, announced plans to overhaul various health-related laws during the upcoming legislative session.
He shared that key amendments include the Tobacco Control Bill to align with international standards and the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Bill for better regulation of natural health products.
Empowering healthcare professionals
Furthermore, proposed revisions to the Nurses and Midwives Act and the Pharmacy Act aim to legitimize Advanced Practice Registered Nurses’ roles.
This move will enable expanded prescription privileges for practitioners at government health centers and the University Hospital of the West Indies.
Prioritizing preventive healthcare
The Governor-General said that the government remains committed to preventive healthcare through initiatives like the ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign, offering 500,000 screening tests.
The Jamaica Moves Campaign continues to promote healthy living in schools, communities, and workplaces.
Bolstering healthcare infrastructure
Investments in healthcare infrastructure include the redevelopment of the Spanish Town Hospital and upgrades to several health centers.
Facilities such as the St. Jago Park and Greater Portmore Health Centres will become Comprehensive Health Centres, while others will be elevated to Regional Hospitals.
Enhancing workforce and service delivery
To improve service quality and workforce conditions, over 2,500 physician positions have been created in primary healthcare.
The shift away from contract-based employment aims to provide better working arrangements for healthcare professionals.
