WITH the number of people diagnosed with cancer expected to balloon in coming years, one of the nation's leading surgeons and university professors is urging his colleagues and the Government to address current barriers to cancer care delivery. In a sit-down with the Jamaica Observer editors and reporters last week to discuss Jamaica Cancer Society's [...]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is reporting that the economy grew by an estimated 1.5 per cent during the January to March 2019 quarter. The growth, PIOJ said, was spurred by increased external demand from Jamaica's main trading partners, which supported increased exports of some goods and services, particularly tourism and [...]

Executive director of Jamaica Cancer Society, Yulit Gordon (centre) explains how the organisation fights cancer and celebrates survivorship through the upcoming Relay for Life fund-raiser to editors and reporters at Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue head office in St Andrew this week. She is joined by head of the Department of [...]

Michael Lee-Chin, chairman of the Economic Growth Council (EGC), addressing a press briefing by the EGC last Wednesday. Chairman of the Economic Growth Council (EGC), Michael Lee-Chin, has made a passionate plea for Jamaicans to save and purchase more assets, warning that foreigners will sweep in as the economy begins to strengthen. Lee-Chin, who was [...]

A man observes the aftermath of an accident that took place recently at the intersection of Harbour and Duke streets in Kingston. 1 2 The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is $90 million short of the funds it needs to conduct a sustained and effective campaign to raise awareness about traffic crashes and influence driver [...]

Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton speaks at the contract signing for the development of a national health plan for Jamaicans on December 6, 2017. The green paper on unviersal health care has now been tabled in Parliament for public discussion. ADVISORY COLUMN: INSURANCE HELPLINE Eight out of every 10 persons do not have access [...]

The minister of health and wellness is forging ahead with legislation for a National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP). The Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI) recently hosted a public forum to engage citizens on the matter. The event highlighted some important considerations that are needed to flesh out this vision, including citizen partnership and acceptance, private [...]

Road crashes have forced the Government to spend billions of dollars on treatment annually, but attendant costs such as diagnostic services, hospital occupancy, physiotherapy and emotional trauma are taking a heavy toll on the country’s healthcare personnel. Despite professional training and experience, healthcare personnel who are among first responders are traumatised by the severity of [...]

The head of Jamaica’s largest insurance conglomerate and dominant provider of healthcare coverage wants clarity on how the plan for universal health insurance will affect persons already covered. That number spans about 500,000 people in a population of more than 2.7 million. The insured includes family members of working Jamaicans who are insured through their [...]