Medical association calls for dialogue to address issues in health sector
Published:Monday | May 4, 2015 | 12:00 AM
The Medical Association of Jamaica is calling for dialogue between healthcare stakeholders following a damning presentation on the state of the heath sector by the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA).
On Friday, the union spoke of unsanitary conditions under which health services are being delivered.
The JMDA has also withdrawn from a health ministry taskforce and has called for strong measures against Permanent Secretary Dr Kevin Harvey.
However, President of the Medical Association of Jamaica, Dr Shane Alexis says discussions involving all stakeholders are now required to have the issues immediately addressed.
President of the Medical Association of Jamaica, Dr. Shane Alexis
Alexis says his association remains committed to the taskforce set up by the health ministry to address issues in the health sector.
At a press conference on Friday, the JMDA president Dr Alfred Dawes alleged that operating theatres are filled with fungus and that doctors are being given plastic bags instead of surgical aprons to use during operations.
He produced pictures to show that the absence of standard medical masks has left the doctors with no option but to use those issued as part of the Ebola response.
President of the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association Dr. Alfred Dawes
The Health Ministry is yet to respond to the JMDA's claims.