Mark Golding Calls for a Healthcare Revolution in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica – On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Opposition Leader Mark Golding took the floor in the House of Representatives, making a passionate plea for a transformation in Jamaica’s healthcare system during the 2025/26 Budget Debate. His message was clear: it’s time to shift our focus towards primary care and extensive screening to save lives.
Golding painted a stark picture of the current state of healthcare in Jamaica. He revealed alarming statistics that show a significant number of cancers are diagnosed too late. “Seventy percent of colon cancers are found at advanced stages,” he noted, adding that “90 percent of breast cancers are detected only after a lump appears, often over a year after the cancer has started.” This delay in diagnosis is not just a statistic; it represents real lives affected by preventable diseases.
The Opposition Leader didn’t stop there. He highlighted that many Jamaicans are unaware of their chronic conditions. “Fifty percent of diabetic patients and 40 percent of those with hypertension don’t even know they have these diseases,” Golding lamented. This lack of awareness can lead to severe complications, including strokes and kidney failures, which are already overwhelming our hospitals.
Golding’s vision for a healthier Jamaica includes launching national screening programs aimed at early detection of the most deadly diseases. “Prevention and early treatment are easier, cheaper, and more effective than late cures,” he emphasized. His plan aims to tackle the root causes of health issues before they escalate into emergencies.
He also criticized the current government for its handling of healthcare facilities. “Despite grand announcements about rehabilitation, multiple operating theatres remain non-functional at major institutions like Kingston Public Hospital and Cornwall Regional Hospital,” he pointed out. This situation leaves many patients waiting for surgeries that could be performed in a timely manner if the facilities were properly equipped.
“Under the next PNP government, every operating theatre will be refurbished,” Golding promised. He envisions a future where patients no longer have to wait years for surgery. “We will move from the cutting of ribbons today to the cutting of hernias tomorrow,” he declared, igniting hope among those who have faced long waits for medical procedures.
Golding also addressed the overcrowding in emergency departments, where many patients could be treated in urgent care facilities instead. “We will create urgent care centres islandwide,” he proposed, ensuring that patients can see a doctor and receive necessary tests without the long waits typical of emergency rooms. “This will lead to shorter waiting times and end the days of patients sleeping on benches and floors,” he added, a sentiment echoed by many who have experienced the frustrations of our current system.
As Golding laid out his vision for a healthier Jamaica, he resonated with the hopes and fears of citizens who long for a more responsive healthcare system. His call for action is not just about politics; it’s about the lives of everyday Jamaicans who deserve better.
Will the next government heed this call for change, or will the cycle of neglect continue? The future of Jamaica’s healthcare hangs in the balance, and the time for action is now.