KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) says the infrastructural issues at the Bustamante Hospital for Children are not unique as similar problems exist in the country’s healthcare facilities.

JMDA’s comments follow criticism from Jamaican-born orthopaedic surgeon and spine specialist Dr Robert Brady who came with a team of doctors to perform surgeries locally but was restricted due to poor infrastructure.

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JMDA said that it has brought the issues being faced by the health sector to the Ministry of Health and Wellness on numerous occasions, but limited response was received.

“Over the years the JMDA has highlighted the widespread infrastructural and human resources deficiencies in repeated communications with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW). Despite numerous letters and persistent efforts from the JMDA to engage the MoHW, there has been limited response to some of these critical issues that are impacting both our healthcare workers and the quality of patient care,” JMDA said in a press release on Monday.

The association extended support to the doctors at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, who it said has remained “committed to providing the best standards of healthcare within the infrastructural environment they are provided”.

It went on to call on the health ministry to take action and resolve the “ongoing and widespread” infrastructural issues, adding that it is willing to work with the MoHW for the best interest of the nation’s healthcare system.