MANDEVILLE, Jamaica — Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has acknowledged severe overcrowding at Jamaican hospitals while explicitly avoiding the term ‘crisis’ to describe the situation. During a Friday tour of Mandeville Regional Hospital, which he characterized as a ‘rescue centre’ for western Jamaica, Tufton addressed the critical capacity issues facing the healthcare system.
The minister revealed that Mandeville Regional Hospital is operating at 78% above its 250-bed inpatient capacity and 50% above outpatient capacity, with approximately 350-360 inpatients currently receiving treatment. This surge has forced medical staff to treat patients in makeshift areas including hallways and temporary privacy corners, creating significant logistical challenges.
Tufton attributed the overcrowding to multiple factors, primarily the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa which devastated infrastructure last October. Black River Hospital, normally equipped with 150 beds, currently operates with only 30-40 beds due to hurricane damage. The minister warned that overcrowding conditions are likely to persist until March when reconstruction of damaged hospitals is completed.
In response to the crisis, Tufton announced immediate measures including construction of a new ward at Mandeville that will accommodate 30-40 additional patients. He also emphasized enhancing primary healthcare services through increased home visits, extended health center hours, and improved field vigilance to reduce hospital visits for non-emergency cases.
The minister made a direct appeal to Jamaicans to utilize primary healthcare facilities instead of hospitals for non-urgent matters and to maintain medication regimens to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations. He praised healthcare workers for going ‘beyond the call of duty’ while acknowledging the tremendous stress on medical staff.
Tufton’s hospital tour continued through the weekend with visits to Black River, Savanna-La-Mar, Noel Holmes, Cornwall Regional, and Falmouth hospitals to assess conditions firsthand and coordinate emergency response efforts across the region.