JAMAICA | Gov't must address crisis affecting health services says PNP's Dr. Alfred Dawes

Kingston, Jamaica. January 14, 2024: Opposition Shadow Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Alfred Dawes is calling for urgent action to address the growing crisis affecting healthcare services, in the wake of mounting Human Resources challenges within the Ministry of Health.

In a statement, Dr. Dawes said over the past week, the Southern Region Health Authority (SERHA) has experienced industrial action from laboratory technicians and nurses, revealing systemic issues within the Ministry.

He emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating, "The current state of affairs within our healthcare system is alarming. Employees are citing concerns related to compensation, working conditions, and what they perceive as a lack of responsiveness from senior managers to their grievances. “

“The Ministry of Health must swiftly and comprehensively address the root causes of these issues to ensure the continued delivery of quality healthcare services," he said.

Expressing concern over the rapid promotion of recently graduated nurses, Dr. Dawes pointed out that "Hastily promoting inexperienced nurses without completing the required orientation programme is unfair to these nurses who lack the requisite experience but are expected to assume primary responsibility for patient care, without adequate supervision.

“This potentially dangerous practice jeopardizes patient safety and places an undue burden on our seasoned healthcare professionals. We need a strategic and sustainable approach to address staffing challenges," he noted.

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