KINGSTON, Jamaica — At its first meeting, the committee responsible for overseeing the crafting of the 10-year development plan for the health sector has committed to using a consultative and transparent process to complete the plan.

Representatives of the Ministry of Health recently met with members of the committee to discuss the Terms of Reference, a news release from the Health Ministry said Thursday.

Committee Chairman, retired Public Health Specialist Dr Ernest Pate said: “The plan will be developed using the consultative policy process. We will be taking it to the people.”

He added that the committee aims to be transparent and open as it continues to work towards developing this plan.

Stakeholders represented at the meeting included the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), National Consumers League, Sagicor Jamaica, University of the West Indies, Mona, National Health Fund, Ministry of Finance and Planning, University Hospital of West Indies, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Planning Institute of Jamaica, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The 10-year Health Sector Development Plan is being considered a “road map” for the health sector; a clear and precise plan for what will be required to develop the health sector for a ten-year period.

The IDB has provided US$250,000 to develop the plan.