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Poverty to Prosperity
Budget Presentation
Gordon House March 19, 2015
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there were 190,068 admissions to hospitals 42,000 more than before and 1,271,806 visits
to health centres, 151,000 more visits than before. This initial surge in usage as a result of
free access, eventually tapering-off as the backlog in health care needs were attended to
and cleared. I shudder to think what was happening to that person who couldn‟t afford
health care before. Mr. Speaker those who seek a return to user fees must first answer the
question:
Where will the people who cannot afford fees access healthcare?
Mr. Speaker, the 2012 Survey of Living Conditions notes that 3 out of 4 or
75%
of
Jamaicans who reported being ill or injured sought health care. It also noted that 24.8% of
Jamaicans who reported illness did not seek medical attention; this was down from 2002
when 36% reported not seeking medical attention. Preference for home remedies was the
main reason given by 48.9% of those not seeking healthcare in 2010.
The Labour Party administration increased the Health Budget every year as a
demonstration of our commitment to the policy of free access to quality
healthcare for every Jamaican.
We believe that if you are sick you should be able to go the hospital at the time of your
illness and be treated in reasonable time and with dignity.
User fees at hospitals was just one barrier to the free and timely access to health
care, and we removed it.
The cost of medicines was a barrier and we enhanced the Drug-Serve Pharmacies
and drugs for the elderly programme and covered the cost of certain critical
medicines as part of our access policies.