Training to fill the health care gaps

The Jamaican public heath sector continues to be faced with the challenge retaining trained health professionals and the Ministry of Health is employing a number of strategies to win the battle with overseas recruiters. Over the past three years, for example, the health ministry has awarded a number of scholarships for pharmacists enrolled at the University of Technology (UTECH) and destined to enter the health sector in 2010 and 2011.

Director of human resources management and development in the Ministry of Health and Environment (MOH), Claudette Walker, is confident that this move will go some way towards filling an existing 47 per cent vacancy level for these professionals in the health sector.

The Ministry is also training midwives free of cost, a move that has been greeted with mixed reactions from those it targets. As Walker explains, many Jamaicans seem to prefer to be trained as registered nurses/midwives, as health workers so trained and designate are paid a higher salary.

There are two midwifery schools in Jamaica located at the Spanish Town and the other at Victoria Jubilee hospitals.

Claudette Walker admits that despite the ministry’s efforts, the health sector continues to be negatively impacted by the recruitment of Jamaican nurses to work overseas.

According to her: “The number of nurses graduating each year from training institutions is more than 500. They come from the Northern Caribbean University, UTECH, UWI, Excelsior Community College and Brown’s Town Community College. Each is graduating an average approximately 100 annually. Had there not been an outflow, then we would have been able to satisfy the needs of Jamaican health service both private and public.”

In relation to specialist workers needed in pathology, oncology, neurology, urology, cardiology and other areas, Walker said the ministry is now partnering with overseas institutions to train these health professionals. The MOH has also started a nephrology (pertaining to the kidney) training school and is looking at opening an oncology (cancer care) training centre.

“We are hoping training will fill the gaps. We are trying to seek sponsorship for some of this in order to reduce the shortages being experienced,” the health ministry’s director of human resources said.

avia.ustanny@gleanerjm.com