Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has expressed concerns over the growing sickness profile among the Jamaican population and has called for pharmaceutical entities that supply medication for this vulnerable population to ramp up service delivery.

Tufton made this call during the National Health Fund’s signing for the award of contracts valued at $27 billion on Tuesday, August 15, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

“The population needs to know that we have a sick profile that is growing and we have to do something about it and those who serve that sick profile by providing solutions need to understand that they have a duty to live true to their obligation in the first instance in terms of delivery, the timeliness, the appropriateness, the integrity of the products that they deliver,” the health minister said.

He further called for meaningful partnerships to enhance the prevention of illnesses plaguing the Jamaican population.

“We must recognise that this is a partnership, a life-saving partnership that requires a lot more thought than just supplying a drug. It has to require thought in finding better ways to serve, particularly with the trends moving in the direction they are going, which frankly speaking are not sustainable, which one-day NHF will run out of money if we continue on the trajectory or the government may not find it possible continue with a 100 per cent increase every five years,” he said.

While highlighting the current healthcare challenges plaguing the Jamaican population, Tufton also made a call for Jamaicans to take greater personal responsibility towards their health.

“Jamaicans must appreciate that the government is making its best efforts to respond to their concerns but they must also appreciate that they have a responsibility to help in ensuring their own personal wellness and collectively the wellness of the society and the community that they exist in,” he said.

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