Health care in crisis - MAJ

The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) is urging the Government to take swift action to prevent a total collapse of the ailing health-care system.

The Dr Winston De La Haye-led association yesterday disclosed that it had diagnosed that the sector was in critical condition.

"We recognise that these actions are symptoms of a health sector in crisis," De La Haye declared, in reference to Monday's industrial unrest.

The MAJ urged the Government to rescind the current model in the sector to reduce cost and prevent an entire system breakdown.

De La Haye called for the Government to improve working conditions of health-care providers in the sector.

To this end, the association promised to back lobbying efforts, by Health Minister Rudyard Spencer to Finance Minister Audley Shaw and Prime Minister Bruce Golding, to provide greater budgetary support for health.

De La Haye also called for the Government to release, in the public domain, the results of the Comprehensive Review and Evaluation of the Regional Health Authorities prepared by the Health Sector Task Force.

The association characterised the industrial unrest crippling medical activities as a symptom of the ills affecting the sector.

"The MAJ is deeply concerned about the crisis in the Jamaica health sector," a statement from the organisation read.

It warned that Monday's industrial action had the potential to adversely affect the patient care and health service delivery across the island.

The association called for the Government to implement the recommendations from the review of the health reform process to address what it described as the ineffectiveness of regionalisation of health planning, service delivery, accountability, transparency, communication, and community involvement.

Expand posts

De La Haye urged the Government to immediately expand the number of posts available in the public sector for specialist-trained and other doctors and junior doctors; nurses; medical technologists; pharmacists, physical therapists; radiographers; dieticians, and other paramedical staff.

He said the association has repeatedly recommended that Spencer invite all stakeholders in the health-care system to engage in dialogue about the many challenges being faced, in order to address the problems.

Among the woes the MAJ listed were poor working conditions, inadequate remu-neration, and the absence of opportunity for promotion, resulting in disillusionment and apathy among all health-care workers.

The MAJ also cited a flawed health-sector reform exercise and a poorly implemented no-user-fee policy.