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Jamaica's main public hospitals, including the University Hospital of the West Indies UHWI and Kingston Public Hospital KPH, are currently grappling with critical overcrowding, driven by a sharp rise in chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart and kidney conditions.
According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, this surge in chronic illnesses has led to a significant increase in emergency room visits, placing immense pressure on hospital infrastructure and staff.
In response, the Ministry announced it is exploring a partnership with St. Joseph’s Hospital to help ease the burden on emergency departments at the most affected facilities.
At UHWI, the Ministry said emergency admissions have soared to between 120 and 150 patients per day, with a large proportion requiring internal medicine care. It said the hospital's Accident and Emergency Department is currently operating beyond capacity.
