MINISTRY OF HEALTH OF JAMAICA

 2000

INTRODUCTION

The passage of the National Health Services Act in 1997 provided the legal basis for the implementation of government health services reform in Jamaica. Under the Health Reform Programme – specifically the decentralisation component- the centre of management for delivery of health services shifted from Central Government (i.e. the Ministry of Health-MOH), to four semi-autonomous regional bodies, the Regional Health Authorities (RHA’s), each of them with direct management responsibility for the delivery of health services within a geographically defined region.

The functions of the RHA’s, subject to the policy directions of the Ministry, are to plan, administrate and control the delivery of health services so as to ensure the best interest of the region.

The spirit of the new Act involved the establishment of entities strong and independent enough to perform their functions, but subject to restrictions in the form of checks and balances to conform to well-established administrative principles and procedures.

CONTENTS

 This Document was published under the General Direction of

Mr. Owen Belvett

Regional Director

Developed by:

Dr. Reynaldo Holder

Regional Technical Director

Editors:

Mrs. Pauline Allen-Mitchell

Regional Programme Development Officer

Mrs. Beverly Blake-Scarlett

Regional Surveillance Officer

Miss Nicole Wynter

Regional Environmental Health Officer

Mr. Frank Beecher

Regional Health Promotion Officer

Desktop Publishing:

Miss Dorothy Greenwood

General Assistance:

Miss Shally-Ann Beckford

Special thanks to the Health Information Unit, Ministry of Health, the Planning Institute of Jamaica, and the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, for their assistance in securing information. Our greatest appreciation goes to the Staff of the NERHA, especially Health Records.

Demographic Profile     Environmental Profile    Epidemiologic Profile    Health Delivery System

Health Infrastructure    Organization Structure    Socio- Economic Profile   Footnotes and Annexes