The Ministry of Health & Wellness is reporting progress in filling some of the gaps left by Cuban specialist nurses and doctors at Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.
Twenty-seven Cubans had been employed at the hospital up to last month when the bilateral Cuba/Jamaica medical programme ended.
Even as he’s reporting progress in the recruitment driver, however, Health & Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton noted on Thursday that there are still challenges with finding qualified workers for specialised positions, including in the Oncology suite, where “four positions are vacant and we can’t find locals (to fill those posts.”
As a result, steps are being taken to recruit replacement personnel overseas, he disclosed.
Dr Tufton said he had taken note of a call by the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association for local healthcare workers to fill the void.
He is urging the JMDA to submit information on the qualified individuals.
In the meantime, interviews are being done with 70 people from the diaspora who have applied for positions, based on ads that were published.
Additionally, Dr Tufton said the Ministry is on the cusp of signing agreements with Nigeria and Ghana to fill some vacancies.
Workers are also being recruited through the Apollo Hospitals group, based in India.
The Health Minister, who was addressing members of the media during a briefing at Cornwall Regional, also disclosed that the cadre of medical staff at Cornwall Regional has been expanded.
Among the additional staffers are 25 registered nurses, 18 patient care assistants, six doctors, one junior resident, five senior house officers, two dental interns, and one medical technologist.