A nationwide health initiative has uncovered a concerning trend—more than one-third of Jamaicans who underwent recent medical screenings showed abnormal results, signaling an urgent need for greater public health vigilance.
As of April, over 72,000 Jamaicans have participated in the Ministry of Health and Wellness’s islandwide screening campaign, which forms part of its broader health transformation agenda. The effort, which has logged close to 290,000 tests to date, revealed that approximately 36% of individuals tested received results that fell outside normal health parameters.
These figures include screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI)—four critical indicators that help detect non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Specifically, the campaign recorded 103,817 blood pressure tests, 82,682 glucose checks, 35,178 cholesterol screenings, and 67,573 BMI assessments.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, speaking during the Sectoral Debate in Parliament, emphasized the gravity of the findings. “These results reinforce what we’ve known for some time—our population is at significant risk. Screening must become the norm, not the exception.”
To that end, the government is embedding health checks into every level of primary care. Under the new “life stage approach,” individuals will be screened routinely at health centres, aligned with their age and risk profile. This model not only encourages early detection, but also integrates health education into every interaction between citizens and the public health system.
“We are not just collecting numbers. We’re equipping Jamaicans to make informed, life-saving decisions. Health literacy is the gateway to prevention,” Tufton added.
With chronic diseases continuing to exact a heavy toll on the nation, the government’s push toward universal screening is more than policy—it’s a public health imperative.
