Profile of Public Health System

Approximately 80% of the island’s health care service is delivered through four Regional Health Authorities, and the University Hospital of the West Indies. The Health Authorities and the University Hospital are responsible for the delivery of primary, secondary and tertiary health care services to approximately 2.6 million Jamaicans.

Twenty three (23) hospitals and over three hundred and twenty-three (323) public health centres are distributed throughout the thirteen (13) parishes and deep rural areas of the country:

The hospitals and public health centres are categorized based on the type of services they are mandated to provide.

The hospitals are categorized type A, B and C.

There are three (3) type A hospitals, four (4) type B and fourteen (14) type C hospitals.

Type A hospitals provide comprehensive secondary and tertiary health care services and are referral centres for hospitals both in the public and private health systems.

Type B hospitals provide primary and secondary care services.

Type C hospitals provide primary care services and basic secondary care services.

The public health centres are categorized into types 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.

Type 5 health centres provide the widest range of primary and curative care services and type 1 health centres providing the basic primary care, and some basic curative services. In addition, there is the Island Comprehensive Health Clinic in Kingston that provides a wide range of specialized services to the local population.

There are also four (4) specialist hospitals located in Kingston and are managed by the South East Regional Health Authority.

Southeast Regional Health Authority

Head Office Location:

  • The Towers 2nd Floor, 25 Dominica Drive, Kingston 7, Jamaica 
    Telephone: 876-754-3490-45;
    Fax 876-926-4019

Hospitals

  • Kingston Public Hospital – Type A
  • Victoria Jubilee Hospital – Specialist
  • Bellevue Mental Health Hospital - Specialist
  • Bustamante Hospital for Children - Specialist
  • National Chest Hospital - Specialist
  • Spanish Town General Hospital – Type B
  • Linstead Hospital – Type C
  • Buff Bay Hospital – Type C

Health Centres

  • Comprehensive Clinic
  • 88 Health Centres

 

Southern Health Authority

Head Office:

  • 5 Ward Avenue, Mandeville, Jamaica  
    Telephone: 876-625-0607, 876-625-0612-3;
    Fax 876-962-8233

Hospitals

  • Mandeville General Hospital – Type B
  • Black River Hospital – Type C
  • May Pen Hospital – Type C
  • Percy Junior Hospital – Type C
  • Lionel Town Hospital – Type C
  • Chapleton Hospital – Type C

Health Centres

  • 78 Health Centres

 

North East Health Authority

Head Office:

  • Unit 34-36 Ocean Village Shopping Centre  
    Telephone: 876-795-3107, 876-795-0102, 876-974-7758, 876-974-4114

Hospitals

  • St. Ann's Bay General Hospital – Type B
  • Port Maria Hospital – Type C
  • Port Antonio Hospital – Type C
  • Princess Margaret Hospital – Type C
  • Annotto Bay Hospital – Type C
  • Alexandria Hospital – Type C

Health Centres

  • 74 Health Centres

 

Western Regional Health Authority

Head Office:

  • Mount Salem P.O Box, Montego Bay, St James
    Telephone: 876-952-1124, 876-971-7022-3

Hospitals

  • Falmouth General Hospital - Type C
  • Savanna-la-Mar General Public Hospital - Type B
  • Noel Homes - Type C
  • Cornwall Regional Hospital - Type A

Health Centres

  • 83 Health Centres