Ja to strengthen healthcare system with IDB support

THE INTER-AMERICAN Development Bank (IDB) has provided loans in the sum of US$100 million to assist Jamaica in its fight against non-communicable diseases (NCD).

The Government says that the funding from the IDB will strengthen health policies that target NCD risk factors and treatment. These policies include providing higherquality care and improving access to publichealth networks, with an emphasis on chronic-disease management.

Jamaica’s NCD prevention policy seeks to address two main challenges. The first is prevention of NCDs by addressing four preventable risk factors: tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, a sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthy dietary habits. The second is improving the quality of life and care for people living with NCDs. It also involves preventing premature NCD-related deaths.

Five years ago, the Government health centres and hospitals to diagnose and treat NCD patients; and to reorient Jamaica’s health systems to address prevention and control of NCDs through consumer-oriented primary healthcare.

The hybrid loan includes two complementary elements: a US$50 million Programmatic Policy-Based (PBP) loan and a US$50 million investment loan. The PBP will fund the necessary regulations and policies to implement coherent and comprehensive health sector strategy. The investment loan will fund improvements in Jamaica’s primary-care system and will improve the management, quality, and efficiency of Jamaica’s hospital and health-service networks.

This hybrid programme is the first of a programmatic policy-based loan series for Jamaica’s health sector, which will be made up of two contractually independent and technically linked loans.