Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton told Parliament this week that Jamaica’s care model is pivoting: every future clinic visit—whether for a sniffle or prenatal check—will include routine NCD screening matched to a patient’s life stage.
“We’re baking prevention into primary care. The price of skipping a simple test is far higher than the time it takes to roll up a sleeve.”
Why it matters for employers, schools, and families
- Productivity drain – Undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes translate to more sick days, higher insurance costs, and lower workforce output.
- Education ripple – Students battling unmanaged health issues miss classes and underperform.
- Household economics – Late-stage treatment costs families multiples of early intervention.
The call to action
- Businesses: sponsor on-site screening days.
- Communities: host parish-wide “check-up fairs.”
- Individuals: treat the clinic like you treat the gas pump—visit before you run on empty.
The ministry’s mobile units are slated to hit every parish by year-end. When they roll into your town, get in line; the most expensive number is the one you never learn.
