Reformulated in 2023, the Health Systems Strengthening Programme (HSSP) is a national initiative aimed at improving the prevention and care management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Jamaica.
The programme seeks to enhance the health and well-being of the Jamaican population by strengthening policies that address NCD risk factors and implementing a chronic care model that improves access to high-quality, integrated primary and hospital services. It is being implemented at a time when 1 in 3 Jamaicans have hypertension; 1 in 8 are living with diabetes; and 1 in 2 are overweight or obese – a known risk factor for NCDs, including cancer and respiratory disease.
HSSP focuses its efforts through targeted interventions at 13 pilot sites in central Jamaica, and is structured around three main components:
Component 1: Infrastructure upgrades and equipment procurement to improve the primary and secondary health services networks.
Component 2: Strengthening the management, quality, and efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Component 3: Supporting programme administration, evaluation, and key capabilities in monitoring, risk mitigation, change management, communications, and social impact.
The programme is financed through an initial loan agreement of US $50 million with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), US $87 million in additional funding from the Government of Jamaica, and a US $10 million investment grant from the European Union (EU). Together, these contributions will see a total of approximately US $148 million invested in transforming Jamaica’s health sector by 2030.
So far, the programme has completed installation of the Electronic Health Records (EHR) system e-Care at all 13 pilot sites and is currently implementing managed network services in 105 health facilities island-wide. Infrastructure upgrades have already been completed at Chapleton Community Hospital, with work now progressing at the four facilities in St Catherine. Ground has also been broken for civil works for two new health centres in St Ann, and a new Outpatient Department building at May Pen Hospital.
