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reduction in estimated tuberculosis (TB) mortality (when mortality data excludes cases comorbid with HIV), but only a slight drop in incidence. Jamaica is unlikely to meet its goals for MDG 6 by 2015. For definitions, sources and explanations on the Millennium Development Goals see page 314. Universal health coverage Almost half of health care in Jamaica (45 per cent) was paid for by patients or funded by other non-governmental entities – such as private insurers, charities or employers – in 2012. Total health expenditure constituted 5.9 per cent of GDP in 2012, of which 54 per cent (US$175 per capita) was covered by the government. Jamaica has signed and ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which includes ‘the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’. The covenant commits signees to providing healthy and hygienic environmental conditions, controlling epidemic diseases, improving child health and facilitating access to health services without discrimination. According to a 2013 report by the World Bank, Jamaica’s primary health care system was a model for the Caribbean region in the 1990s, which has resulted in citizens of the country enjoying relatively better health status than people in other, similar countries in the Caribbean region. Since the turn of the century, the government of Jamaica has made moves to try and improve access to health care for its population. This has resulted in the establishment of the Jamaica National Health Fund (NHF) in 2003 and the abolition of user fees at public facilities in 2008. In July 2014 a High Level Consultation on Universal Health Coverage was held in Kingston, during which the Minister of Health, Fenton Ferguson, announced that the government was continuing to take steps towards universal health coverage (UHC) for all Jamaicans. Recent efforts towards this end include the upgrading of infrastructure, with more than 100 health centres refurbished under the Primary Care Infrastructure Renewal Programme, and spending, since 2012, US$1.5 billion of public funding on equipment acquisition and the upgrading of hospitals. J ama i c a Care of the Elderly: Around 220,000 people in Jamaica are over the age of 65 – eight per cent of the total population (2013). At the age of 60 a person in Jamaica can be expected to live for an additional 21 years, on average (2013). Jamaica’s pension scheme, part of the Programme for Advancement through Health and Education, dates back to 2001. Monthly pension credits are paid by the state at a rate of US$9 per person (2007–12) on a meanstested basis. Overall, public pension spending is equivalent to 0.1 per cent of the country’s total economic output (2009). There are multiple public and private residential homes in Jamaica, including Safe Haven Home for the Aged. Over the years several residential homes in the country have been called into question over the quality of care and services offered to elderly residents. In general, the West Indian culture is against the practice of putting elderly relatives into institutions, preferring them to be cared for at home by their family. Population over 65 HelpAge Jamaica, an affiliate of HelpAge International, is a nonprofit, charitable organisation in Jamaica that helps to care of the elderly community. The organisation helps cater to the interests of the elderly in the country, and is involved in organising community health and information fairs that help senior citizens to access health care and medication. At the time of writing these fairs had benefited more than 3,000 people nationwide. Further information Ministry of Health: www.moh.gov.jm Commonwealth Health Online: www.commonwealthhealth.org/health/americas/jamaica Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 189 8%


Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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