Jamaicans with life-threatening health emergencies they are unable to fund have benefited from $300 million in aid under the Government’s Compassionate Care Programme since the start of 2023, according to Health and Wellness Minster Dr Christopher Tufton.

“When there is a problem, either with an institution, or there’s a backlog, or where the situation is dire and persons are literally deteriorating and could lose their life, we support through the Compassionate Care Programme,” Tufton told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview.

He said the programme, which also assists individuals who are slated for medical procedures that cannot be done in the island or cannot be done “fast enough” here, can be accessed through an online application process on the health ministry’s website. Applications are then considered by a selection committee.

“Since this year, probably over $300 million has been spent on that programme, and [we] continue to help persons,” Tufton told the Observer.

The programme, which is among several provided by the State to aid people who are sick, is managed by the health and wellness ministry in partnership with the National Health Fund and provides grants to the most vulnerable Jamaicans who cannot readily access health care. Services covered include specialised surgeries and procedures, diagnostics, specialised X-rays, and prescribed medication not covered under Jamaica’s vital essential and necessary drugs (VEN) programme.

The health and wellness minister, who was responding to queries from the Observer about the various avenues of assistance for Jamaicans with dire health conditions that they cannot afford to treat but are clueless as to funding sources, said the ministry assists with waiving fees at University Hospital of the West Indies when necessary.

“We pay for services like diagnostic services through the enhanced health-care programme and, as you know, some of these diagnostic services are quite expensive. We do public-private partnership like CODE CARE, where we bring in overseas experts to do surgeries to clear up the backlog and also outsource some of those surgeries to private operating theatres or hospitals. So there is a whole menu of support that is given,” the minister said.

He, in the meantime, noted that the need for assistance of this kind is at an all-time high.

“The truth is that the demand is very high. Our sick profile has made people sicker earlier in their lives and it has become a real challenge to keep up with the demands of the system. And we have to address it from a prevention standpoint as well as from additional support services because it’s not sustainable just to be providing for these conditions when they are increasing at such a rapid rate,” Tufton pointed out.

“Cancer rates, for example, are growing very fast — the fastest growth. Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death, things like strokes, heart attacks, and so on. So we have to address if from both sides; the prevention side, through primary health care, and the curative side, through operating theatres, hospitals, and so on,” he said.

Jamaicans with conditions — including cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and other chronic illnesses — can access assistance through the CHASE Fund Medical Assistance Programme, which is a charitable initiative that provides financial assistance to individuals who require medical treatment but are unable to afford the costs.