Government is taking steps to ensure a smooth transition at all public hospitals and health centres in anticipation of an increase in patient load come April, when hospital user fees will be abolished for all patients.

Minister of Health and Environment Rudyard Spencer and State Minister Aundré Franklyn, are scheduled to visit health facilities islandwide over the next three weeks in order to carry out a first-hand assessment of the adjustments needed to meet the changes.

These preparatory activities were discussed with Prime Minister Bruce Golding last Friday during a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Health and Environ-ment and representatives of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ). The MAJ requested the meeting with the Prime Minister to voice its concerns about the pending removal of fees.

Golding said it was projected that, as a result of the changes, hospitals would be deprived of approximately $3.5 billion in revenue. He said the Government was committed to providing the shortfall in order that patients, especially the very poor, could have access to health care.

Review of structure

He said the Government would have to continue to make financial support available to the health sector within its budgetary constraints. Golding said the ability to do more would depend on how well the economy performs.

In the meantime, the Prime Minister said the current structure of health care would have to be reviewed and rationalised to enable more efficient use of funding, personnel and services, as well as equipment. He made particular reference to primary health care which he said would have to be recalibrated to take some of the less serious and non-life threatening cases out of hospitals.

Modern technology

He said the sector would also have to look at employing modern technology that would facilitate communication and consultation between doctors and patients in remote locations, especially as it relates to diagnostic services.

The health minister said a technical team from the ministry had been tasked with examining the projected impact of the removal of user fees, as well as the rationalisation of health services. He said the ministry was also looking at a systematic upgrading of some of the physical facilities. The ministry is reporting a 30 per cent increase in the utilisation of its services following last year's removal of user fees for all children under 18 years.

The prime minister has asked that all stakeholders in the health sector be consulted on the way forward, so that all inputs can be included to ensure a smooth transition come April.