Health in Jamaica
Life expectancy in Jamaica was 73 years in 2012.Healthcare
Dr Christopher Tufton is the minister of health.
Health care in Jamaica is free to all citizens and legal residents at the public hospitals and clinics. This, in theory, includes the cost of prescribed medication. There are long queues at public health facilities. An audit in 2015 identified shortages of manpower, equipment, medications, wheelchairs, stretchers, gloves, beds, and other essential supplies. 3.3% of the national budget is spent on health services.
In Jamaica there are over 330 health centres, 24 public hospitals, the University Hospital of the West Indies, a regional teaching institution partially funded by Regional Governments including Jamaica, 10 private hospitals and over 495 pharmacies. There are around 5,000 public hospital beds and about 200 in the private sector. See List of hospitals in Jamaica.
