New Medical Equipment Maintenance Policy
Nov. 22, 2023
KINGSTON, Jamaica. Tuesday, November 21, 2023: Come next financial year (April 1, 2024), the Ministry of Health and Wellness will implement a new Medical Equipment Management Policy that addresses equipment maintenance issues affecting health service delivery.
Permanent Secretary Dunstan Bryan announced the coming of the policy today (November 21) during a meeting with service providers and suppliers of electromechanical systems and medical equipment.
The Ministry's Executive Management Team convened the session to chart the way forward by identifying and formulating solutions to maintenance issues. This in a bid to further improve service delivery in the public health system.
“The purpose of this policy is to provide information to guide planning the maintenance activities in their institutions according to priorities that will improve the quality and availability of health care services in Jamaica,” said Mr. Bryan.
The Permanent Secretary presented core aspects of the Policy to include the training of technical in-house staff to attain maintenance capabilities; mandatory user manuals; maintenance agreements; replacement parts, among other things.
“It involves maintenance of medical equipment that ensures maximizing the safety of the equipment for patients and staff; alignment with international best practices and standards; extended useful life of the equipment,“ he added.
Discussions went underway with suppliers to provide understanding of expectations under the new maintenance policy; servicing contracts; routine servicing arrangements, among other areas.
Noting the growing demands on public health services, Minister of Health & Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton explained the ongoing priorities of the Ministry and their relevance to maintenance of medical equipment to deliver diagnostic services.
“Public health is experiencing transformation. The transformation has to start with firstly trying to upgrade the infrastructure because it is outdated,” the Minister said.
He detailed the $8 billion Jamaican dollar investment to overhaul the public health system including infrastructural upgrades at Spanish Town Hospital, Cornwall Regional Hospital, May Pen and St. Ann’s Bay Hospitals and the rehabilitation and construction of 10 health centres.
At the same time, “the policy will also feature a maintenance monitoring framework to include a computerised maintenance management system that is being procured for use by all Regional Health Authorities. Additionally, contracts will now possess a performance monitoring framework,” the Minister added.
Armed with feedback from the service providers, the Ministry will host another discussion forum to further explore the details of the maintenance policy and to align expectations on both sides.
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