The Editor,

For several years, the Mandeville Regional Hospital has been operating without a CT scan machine, despite being the primary referral hospital for Manchester and neighbouring parishes.

 This gap in diagnostic capacity has led to numerous delays in patient care and, tragically, loss of life.

One recent example involves a 19-year-old male patient (name withheld) who sustained a head injury in a motorcycle accident on October 11. Without access to CT imaging, the severity of his head trauma could not be confirmed, and he died less than a day after admission. The hospital’s clinicians continue to face similar challenges, relying only on basic X-rays while managing complex trauma cases.

There are long-standing rumours that individuals with influence or connections to private radiology facilities near the hospital have hindered efforts to install public imaging equipment. While such claims require official investigation, it is undeniable that the absence of a CT scanner has caused repeated tragedy and frustration for both staff and patients.

Authorities have often stated that there is “no suitable space” to install a scanner, yet this explanation seems insufficient. Infrastructure can be built; lives cannot be replaced.

It is also worth noting that Cornwall Regional Hospital and Kingston Public Hospital, though equipped with CT scanners, frequently experience equipment downtime—a separate but equally concerning issue of maintenance and governance within Jamaica’s health system. If our regional hospitals are to function as intended, they must be equipped, staffed, and managed accordingly.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness must prioritise the installation and upkeep of advanced imaging at Mandeville Regional Hospital. The people of central Jamaica deserve the same standard of care as those in the west and the capital.

Respectfully,

Concerned Citizen