Jamaica strengthens public health preparedness and patient safety

Jamaica is implementing several initiatives to strengthen its national health security and patient care standards. The Ministry of Health and Wellness is observing World Patient Safety Day by focusing on the lived experiences of individuals managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Through a technical symposium, the Ministry aims to address the risks and challenges patients face when navigating healthcare systems, such as mobility issues and service delivery hurdles.

Simultaneously, Jamaica has launched a voluntary external evaluation of its public health preparedness and response capacities. Conducted under the International Health Regulations (2005) Verification and Evaluation Exercise (IHR-VEE) Mission, this assessment allows the country to objectively evaluate its ability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie emphasized that the exercise is a national imperative to identify systemic gaps and strengthen protections for the population, particularly given Jamaica's role as a regional travel hub.