Minister of Health, John Junor cuts the ribbon to reopen the newly-refurbished Pharmacy Department at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The pharmacy now offers discount drugs and prescriptions, expanded opening hours and more customer-friendly service in a retail setting. Assisting him is Jacqueline Miller, director of the Pharmacy Department at the hospital. NEW STANDARDS covering all branches of the health care system are to be implemented soon, according to Minister of Health John Junor.
The Minister says the Standard and Regulations Department of the Ministry of Health will devise, implement and enforce standards for governing the delivery of health care in both public and private sector health institutions and facilities.
He promised that these standards will become the hallmark by which health service delivery will be measured in Jamaica. Minister Junor's remarks came at the official reopening of the newly refurbished University Hospital Pharmacy, which is now offering low cost drugs and prescriptions with a user-friendly, efficient approach to service.
The new health standards will be formulated by three separate units in the MOH. The Standards Research & Development Unit will be responsible for producing rules for professional associations and other stake-holders using international standards as references. Their work will cover all processes and practitioners throughout the sector, according to Mrs. E. Grace Allen-Young, the unit's director.
Also responsible for the new standards is the Pharmacy and Regulatory Affairs Unit. This Unit monitors the quality and safety of pharmaceuticals and other devices and serves as the competent authority for the monitoring and regulation of precursor chemicals etc. It also registers health institutions including nursing homes, health centres and certain other health facilities.
The third department devising the new standards is the Investigation & Enforcement Unit, which monitors client complaints and adults client matters in collaboration with regional health authorities and professional councils.
In his speech at the reopening, Minister Junor pointed out that the days of the old "Doc" have disappeared and that pharmacists are now playing a critical role in helping to counsel patients. He congratulated the Hospital on recent improvements that have made UHWI competitive with private hospitals not only in areas such as the pharmacy, but in overall delivery of health care.
New opening hours for the pharmacy are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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