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Minister of Health Discusses Cancer Treatment Assessment with PAHO |
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Tuesday, 24 January 2012 14:43 |
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Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Minister of Health said that an area of concern for the Ministry is cancer treatment and that a concept paper will be developed on radiotherapy. He was speaking during a courtesy visit by Ms. Margareta Skold, WHO/PAHO representative in Jamaica today (January 24, 2012) at the Ministry’s head office in Kingston. Ms. Skold committed to helping the Ministry assess medical radiation treatment in Jamaica.
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Ministry of Health Pursues Emergency Procurement for Cancer Treatment |
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Monday, 16 January 2012 17:56 |
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Health Minister, Dr. Fenton Ferguson again met with senior technocrats of the Ministry and the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) this morning (January 16, 2012) to discuss the options available to continue cancer treatment for patients at the Kinston Public Hospital.
Arising from the meeting, the Ministry of Health will utilize the emergency procurement methodology to engage the services of Radiation Oncology Centre of Jamaica (ROCJ) to continue the treatment of thirty patients who were being treated at the Kingston Public Hospital prior to the failure of the equipment. The procurement of private services is necessary as any disruption to the course of treatment for these patients could compromise the effectiveness of the intervention. In addition, treatment will commence for another twenty-five patients whose intervention cannot be delayed. A formal contract will be entered into with ROCJ for a specified period of time. ROCJ is the only private institution in the island that provides radiotherapy services. It is expected that the cobalt unit will be back in operation within 30 days.
The intervention for the almost four hundred patients who have been referred to the Kingston Public Hospital for radiotherapy treatment from both the public and private health sectors will commence on a priority basis once the equipment is back in operation.
The Ministry wishes to assure the public that Dr. Collie Miller, Medical Physicist at the KPH is not a medical doctor and does not have the competence to refer patients for treatment. Dr. Miller does not have a reporting relationship to the clinicians who recommend and make referrals of cancer patients. He has responsibility for computation of treatment plans including the delivery of radiation doses based on data provided by the clinicians, the calibration of the technology to ensure accurate delivery of radiation doses and for the radiation safety and protection of staff and patients from radiation exposure.
The Minister instructed that a team is established to commence work to improve the state of cancer treatment in the public health sector for the provision of a modern cancer treatment service.
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Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561
You can view this press release and other information on our website at www.moh.gov.jm
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Dr. Fenton Ferguson Meets with Senior Team at Ministry of Health’s Head Office |
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Tuesday, 10 January 2012 22:12 |
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Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Minister of Health met with his Permanent Secretary and Divisional Heads yesterday (January 9, 2012) at the Ministry’s head office on King Street. In his first session with the senior team Dr. Ferguson said that health ministries have an importance role to play in all jurisdictions. He noted that the people of Jamaica were running out of patience and that there is a need to move swiftly to get things going. The Minister mentioned some of his priorities which included the completion of the tobacco legislation to address the issue of tobacco control. “This is a matter of great importance to me when I consider the adverse effects of tobacco smoking as well as passive smoking,” said Dr. Ferguson.
The Minister instructed his team to undertake a SWOT analysis of the health sector and to proceed with the introduction of the Government of Jamaica health card which will improve the system of billing private health insurance companies. The Minister also indicated his intention ofmaintaining a strong presence on the ground visiting health facilities, engaging staff as well as patients.
Dr. Fenton Ferguson was sworn in as Minister of Health on Friday, January 6, 2012. He is a dental surgeon by profession who has worked in that capacity for several years in the parish of St. Thomas. Dr. Ferguson studied at Howard University in Washington D.C.
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Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561
You can view this press release and other information on our website at www.moh.gov.jm
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Minister Spencer says thanks to Health Staff |
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Thursday, 05 January 2012 18:10 |
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Outgoing Minister of Health, Rudyard Spencer thanked the staff of the Ministry of Health for their support during his tenure and encouraged them to do similarly for the incoming Minister of Health. Minister Spencer was speaking at a farewell function at the Ministry’s Oceana Complex Head Office this morning.
He said that the Ministry plays a vital role in the social and economic survival of the country. “Each staff plays an important role in the achievement of the outcomes of the Ministry”, he said. He admitted that it was difficult to deal with so many bargaining groups all of which had different views on the health sector. The Minister said that more could have been achieved were it not for the economic situation that persisted.
Permanent Secretary Jean Dixon said that the health team learnt a lot from the Minister in the way that he handled sensitive and controversial issues and that it was a pleasure working with him.
Minister Spencer was appointed as Minister of Health in 2007.
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Contact: MOH, Public Relations Unit Tel: 967-1561
You can view this press release and other information on our website at www.moh.gov.jm
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Ministry of Health Heightens its Alert for Imported Cases of Measles |
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Tuesday, 06 December 2011 21:02 |
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In keeping with increased reports of outbreaks and the on-going spread of measles in several countries in Europe (UK, France, Spain) and the Americas (Canada, USA), the Ministry of Health has heightened its alert for imported cases of measles.
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