Jamaica has noted its commitment to an upgraded and responsive primary health care system as it moves to meet the changing health needs of the population and achieve universal health coverage.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, speaking at the 35th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in Geneva Switzerland said prioritising human resources for health is an important step to reform the sector.

“Jamaica has embarked on a reform of primary health care, which is in keeping with our 10-year Strategic plan, and this will see an expanded scope of services as well as an enhancement of existing services in keeping with the evolutions that have occurred in the health needs of the population,” said the minister.

Tufton, who is still in Geneva, will today (May 24) meet with the World Health Assembly and other health ministers globally to discuss cancer research, health digitisation, global and local health emergency response.

The Minister shared that he will also meet with India’s health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya to discuss digitisation of the health industry.

“Over 1.2 or 1.3 billion Indians are digitised, and we’re introducing health information systems, so we want to learn from those experiences. [We are] looking forward to that, they’re a great partner,” said Tufton.

Jamaica also recently participated in an Informal Breakfast Dialogue with the Commonwealth Foundation.
The session was to deepen discussions within the Commonwealth health ministries on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), especially with respect to the gendered dimensions, guided by some important tasks.