Dawes questions impact of increased health spending amid maternal, neonatal mortality concerns

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesman on Health and Wellness Dr Alfred Dawes has raised concerns about the effectiveness of increased public health spending in Jamaica, citing findings from a World Bank review on maternal and neonatal mortality and other challenges facing the healthcare system. In a release issued by the People’s National Party (PNP) on Thursday, Dawes questioned whether the significant increase in the country’s health budget over the past decade has translated into improved healthcare outcomes. According to the statement, Jamaica’s public health budget has more than tripled since the 2016/17 financial year, rising from $60.15 billion to more than $200 billion in the current financial year. Dawes pointed to a World Bank review covering the period 2016 to 2022, which he said indicated that maternal mortality remained higher than levels recorded three decades ago, while neonatal mortality exceeded levels recorded when the current administration took office. The Opposition spokesman also highlighted other findings attributed to the review, including the significant contribution of chronic diseases to deaths in Jamaica, patients presenting at hospitals with advanced illnesses, rising medication costs and staffing challenges at health centres. He further raised concerns about what he described as insufficient use of service-level agreements to assess the performance and accountability of regional health authorities. “The budget has more than tripled, yet the World Bank review finds mothers and newborns still dying at rates that are too high, cancers and chronic diseases rising, and patients reaching hospital too late for cheaper treatment,” Dawes said. “This is a priority problem, not a money problem,” he added. Dawes called for a reassessment of health spending priorities, proposing greater investment in primary healthcare services, improved recruitment and retention of medical professionals and the procurement and maintenance of equipment at public hospitals. He also urged the Government to strengthen accountability measures through the enforcement of service-level agreements and the quarterly publication of performance indicators, including patient waiting times, equipment downtime, staffing vacancies and medication availability. “Jamaicans have paid for a better health system. The World Bank review shows they have not received it,” Dawes said. “Start with the mother in the labour ward and the patient on the waiting list,” he added.