KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Health today announced that effective August 1, there will be an increase in user fees for services provided to non-residents and patients with health insurance, at all public health facilities.

According to a release from the ministry, these increases were previously approved by Cabinet and gazetted in the National Health Services (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2016.

Some of the increased fees for hospital services include registration for general medical visits, from $1,500 to $3,000, and specialty clinics from $3,500 to $7,500; morgue services from $1,000 per day to $2,000 per day; and ICU from $5,000 to $10,600 per day.

There is also an increase in the fees for Food Handlers Permits, up from $500 to $1,000.

The ministry said that Jamaicans, who do not fall in any of the categories, that is, public patients without health insurance, will continue to access the public health services without charge in keeping with the abolition of user fees for public health facilities that took effect in 2008.

It further noted that the full schedule of increases are contained in the regulations, which can be accessed through the Government Printing Office, the Ministry of Health’s four regional health authorities or any local public hospital.