Jamaica has been plagued by a relatively poor public healthcare system and violent crime since 1962, particularly in recent years. Were the Jamaican diaspora assured of an effective public healthcare system and a safer society, more people would return home on retirement. Of course, Jamaican residents are also negatively impacted by problems related to public healthcare and violent crime. Jamaicans at home and abroad anticipate that these two critical issues will be priorities of the next government elected on September 3.
Past JLP and PNP governments were unsuccessful in providing Jamaica with an effective public healthcare system. The system has been challenged by numerous factors.
Perhaps top of the list is staff shortages at public hospitals. A chronic lack of doctors and nurses, worsened by overseas migration, strains public facilities. Burnout among remaining staff is common and contributes to dissatisfaction with the system.
Many hospitals and other facilities are outdated, underfunded, and ill-equipped, with long wait times, poor patient service, and even unsanitary conditions. Long delays for medical test results, appointments, and hospital admissions—even in serious cases—are common. According to reports, public hospitals frequently lack capacity for ongoing chronic disease management.
Jamaicans often complain and express frustration with the public health system and the quality of services being offered.
Last year, Jamaica’s public healthcare was so poor that the U.S. State Department issued warnings citing slow emergency response, demand for upfront payment in private hospitals, and limited ambulance and specialized care availability, particularly in rural areas.
On the positive side, organizations like the Heart Institute of the Caribbean offer high-quality cardiovascular care and have pioneered efforts such as Jamaica’s first cardiac ICU. International agencies, including the WHO, PAHO, World Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, and the European Union, have also shown support for projects aimed at improving systems, infrastructure, training, and healthcare models.
The next government must have plans for expanding and modernizing primary public health facilities while engaging in community wellness programs focused on prevention and healthy lifestyles.
There must also be investment in digital health methods, such as building national electronic health records for integration and efficiency, and expanding telehealth to reach remote areas.
Medical staffing must be improved by offering better salaries, working conditions, professional development, and enhanced training in patient empathy and care.
The focus must also be on improving healthcare infrastructure by increasing investment in hospital renovation, modern equipment, and maintenance, while creating more rural clinics with basic essentials and clean environments.
Improving the healthcare system will require a significant infusion of funds, a necessity that has been a challenge over the years. The government must meet this challenge by sourcing and negotiating international participation, including deliberate, structured collaboration with the Jamaican diaspora.
Solving violent crime is potentially more challenging than fixing the healthcare system, but solutions are needed. Violent crime undermines trust, investment, education, and quality of life. Although the outgoing government made recent progress in alleviating violent crimes, this came through aggressive police assaults against criminals. But wiping out criminals isn’t a long-term solution. A multi-layered strategy is needed—one that addresses the root causes, strengthens institutions, and reduces opportunities for violence.
The next government must embark on policies aimed at modernizing the police force: implementing better training in intelligence-led policing, community relations, and the use of technology such as CCTV, digital forensics, and crime mapping.
Much of Jamaica’s violent crime is conducted by gangs. These gangs must be dismantled not just by arresting and eliminating members and leaders, but also by choking off funds that allow them to arm themselves and finance operations. More effective measures are needed to stem the flow of guns and ammunition to the gangs. Greater investment in port control, cargo scanners, drones, and coastal patrols will be important in solving this problem.
Sadly, several gang leaders are feared yet also highly touted as community dons. Their influence must be weakened by, for example, ceasing to offer them lucrative construction or road work contracts.
Other areas to be addressed include improving judicial efficiency to fast-track violent crime cases in the courts and prevent witness intimidation.
Prison reform is also needed to prevent the comingling of hardened criminals with first-time offenders, which often turns the latter into worse offenders upon release.
Evidence indicates that several violent crimes are committed by youth aged 16–30 with little access to work or education. Therefore, programs in vocational training, apprenticeships, and sports/culture are needed to reduce recruitment into gangs. Although poverty alone doesn’t cause crime, income inequality does promote resentment and violence. This must be bridged.
Attention must also be paid to increasing conflict resolution training in public schools. Young people need better emotional management.
Volatile inner-city “garrison” communities should be transformed through better housing, lighting, roads, and community centers to reduce gang dominance.
There is also a need for a shift away from Jamaica’s “badness” culture, which fuels crime. Steps must be taken to move away from music, social media posts, and peer influence that glorify violence.
Finally, since anti-crime strategies often change with governments, the next administration must seek bipartisan, long-term national anti-crime plans that survive future political transitions.
