A statutory body created under the National Health Services Act of 1997, the NORTH EAST REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, governs the NE Health Region.  The functions of the Authority are to plan, administrate and control the delivery of health services in the region under the guidelines and policies of the Ministry of Health.

In order to secure a diversity of opinions and skills in the management of health services at the regional level, the Act specified the post and professions of the members in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Authority putting great emphasis on the inclusion of community representatives.

The Board of Directors is comprised of 15 members appointed by the Minister of Health. One of those members is the Regional Director who is responsible for the management of the day-to-day activities of the Authority and is answerable to the Board.

Each parish is under the responsibility of a Parish Manager who administers the resources involved in the delivery of services in respect of his/her parish. All technical and administrative staff reports to the Parish Manager who is ultimately responsible for the outcomes. Additionally, two types of Committees, namely, Hospital Management Committee and Parish Management Committees were established as sub-sets of the regional boards, with members consisting of representatives of the crucial professions and community leaders in the region.

Health Care delivery is funded primarily from the consolidated fund of the Government of Jamaica.  The budget for the fiscal year 1999/2000 was five hundred and fifty million dollars (J$ 550,000,000.00) with user fees accounting for approximately ten (10) percent. User fees are expected to increase significantly in the near future when the National Health Insurance Programme (NHIP) and the National Health Fund is implemented.

The Region also benefits regularly from donations of goods and services from friends of the health facilities, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and overseas hospitals.

The budget is allocated sixty (60) percent for secondary care (hospitals) and forty (40) percent to primary care.

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