Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, is stressing the need for Jamaicans to embrace partnership, as a fundamental element of the public health response.

His comments follow criticisms of the Ministry’s new ‘Code Care’ programme, which seeks to invite overseas-based operating theatre nurses, to Jamaica to help clear the backlog of elective surgeries in the public health system.

In May, Dr. Tufton indicated that since March 2020, many hospitals have had to suspend the normal processing of elective surgeries.

This, he had explained resulted in an extension in the length of time people had to wait for these operations, sometimes up to two years.

Speaking at the official ceremony for the adoption of the Port Royal Health Centre yesterday (July 7), Dr Tufton noted that despite criticisms about inviting nurses under the ‘Code Care’ project, Jamaica does not have the human resources to clear the backlog.

Dr. Tufton urged Jamaicans to adjust their mindset towards partnering with others, to help address the country’s issues.