MONTEGO BAY, St James — Saying they are bombarded with congregants’ frequent complaints about poor treatment within Jamaica’s public health system, St James Ministers’ Fraternal is questioning whether the country’s free health-care policy has become an unsustainable, double-edged sword.

Stressing that they support the principle of accessible health care, the group raised concerns about long wait times, inadequate resources, and what they described as worsening suffering at the city’s Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH). Their comments came during a press conference at Burchell Baptist Church in Montego Bay, St James, on Wednesday.

“We accept successive governments’ effort for free health care, but we are wondering if we are at that stage where we truly can give free health care,” said the group’s immediate past president Reverend David Thomas.