Between horror and hope

HOSPITAL horror stories are all too familiar for Jamaicans, and though the age-old issues of long wait times, lack of resources, and poor service appear unyielding and have only led to more frustration when accessing the country’s public health-care system, there appears to be at least a glimmer of hope.

While Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton continues to highlight increased government spending in the public health sector, Opposition spokesman on health Dr Alfred Dawes has argued that there are major disparities in access and quality between the wealthy and the poor.

Last week, this Jamaica Observer reporter visited public health facilities in Kingston, St Andrew, and St Catherine — namely University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), Spanish Town Hospital, and Linstead Public Hospital — to find out from patients whether public health care reliably serves them, who are the ones depending on it.