KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican healthcare sector faces increasing strain as doctors and nurses rally against longstanding issues in the country’s public hospitals, citing inadequate resources, poor working conditions, and a lack of accountability from officials. Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr. Alfred Dawes, voiced his support for these healthcare professionals on Monday, spotlighting the critical state of the sector at a press conference.
Dr. Dawes, a practicing physician, criticized what he sees as a failure by leadership to address or accept responsibility for the deteriorating conditions. “The healthcare workers aren’t the problem,” he asserted, “they’re the ones holding this system together despite unsanitary environments, extreme heat due to broken AC units, and lack of essential resources. Yet, they are the ones facing blame.”
Dawes underscored that healthcare professionals continue to deliver services in substandard environments out of a commitment to their patients, despite personal and professional sacrifices. He emphasized that many clinics are plagued by mold issues, broken equipment, and insufficient staff—conditions that add further stress on already overworked healthcare workers.
The Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association released a statement the day before, calling for the Ministry of Health and Wellness to urgently address the widespread infrastructure and staffing shortages that challenge effective healthcare delivery. Dawes echoed this call for action, urging leadership to prioritize repairing relationships with healthcare staff to collaboratively address these critical challenges.
“The health sector,” Dawes warned, “is reaching a tipping point. It’s time for honest conversations and collective action to prevent further decline in service quality and restore trust within the sector.”
