Jamaica Rapid Private Health Sector Assessment Report

The LHSS Project conducted this rapid assessment to better understand the current and potential role of the private health sector in Jamaica's COVID-19 response. The assessment provides a high-level overview of the private health sector landscape and opportunities to increase private sector contributions to health system resiliency in Jamaica. The findings were intended to inform the development of a surge support plan that the Jamaica Ministry of Health and Welfare could use to guide efforts to leverage private sector resources for the COVID-19 response and future health system shocks. The assessment sought to answer the following questions:

• How is the enabling environment for the private health sector? What challenges do private providers face in their operations?
• What is the geographic distribution and composition (cadre, ownership, etc.) of the private health sector across Jamaica?
• What services do private health care providers currently provide and who do they typically serve? How is their current service delivery aligned with needs relevant for the COVID-19 response?
• How is private health care typically financed? Do government policies provide a framework for private sector engagement or purchasing private health care? If so, how have those policies been put into practice?
• What investments are needed to build capacity in the private health sector to support the COVID-19 response?