A leading Jamaican cardiologist Dr Ernest Madu believes a number of Jamaica’s health and economic problems could be solved if a proper infrastructure is put in place to establish health tourism on the island.
A leading Jamaican cardiologist Dr Ernest Madu believes a number of Jamaica’s health and economic problems could be solved if a proper infrastructure is put in place to establish health tourism on the island.
Dr Madu of the Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC), argues that Jamaica is not benefiting from the number of patients seeking health care outside of their countries, “The most booming trade now is health tourism, but they are not coming to Jamaica, and this is not just because the crime is bad; if they come we have to give them what they need and what is the international standard. To meet the required standards in health care it will require money for the importation of medical equipment and trained specialists, particularly where it affects heart diseases. Jamaica simply does not have the infrastructure to offer treatment to Americans who can go to India or Thailand. So we have to ask the question, why is it that we have not developed the facilities for them to come to Jamaica? Once the infrastructure is put in place, the problem of access would then have to be addressed. Cardiovascular diseases can be treated in Jamaica for 10 per cent of the cost in Miami. The Heart Institute is able to treat most of the heart disease-related cases, but more centres will have to be established.”
Jamaica’s investment and export promotion agency JAMPRO has secured technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat for a development project on the growth of health and wellness tourism in Jamaica. This is a research project to find out if Jamaica could be a realistic destination, what the target market would be, and what is needed to make it happen. For this project, the Commonwealth Secretariat will provide funding to engage the services of a consultant, who will work closely with JAMPRO to identify the critical prerequisites and success factors for the sustainable development of health and wellness tourism in Jamaica. This partnership between the Commonwealth Secretariat and Jamaica represents the latest in a series of projects focused on the socio-economic development in the country.
JAMPRO will be driving the project, in collaboration with the health and tourism ministries, to primarily develop a detailed strategy and action plan aimed at creating investment promotion and industry development frameworks for the establishment of internationally competitive healthcare services.
Sancia Bennett-Templer of JAMPRO says, “As a critical part of our mandate, JAMPRO is charged with not only promoting established sectors for investments, but also identifying and diversifying Jamaica’s offerings for both local and foreign investments. We are committed to increasing employment, and the health and wellness sub-sector presents those opportunities. Much research has already been done in the area of medical tourism in Jamaica, with information dating back to the 1990’s. In partnering with the Commonwealth Secretariat, it is important to update existing information with new findings and avoid reinventing the wheel in the process. We will focus on developing a plan of action with key initiatives and important deadlines for stakeholders to partner with JAMPRO in executing, so that the required accreditations, guidelines for operation and legal requirements are in place early. This will make it easy for investors and medical tourists to do business and receive optimal care in Jamaica.”
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