Jamaica launches standard for telemedicine

Health Minister warns of Jamaica's health crisis

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) has launched its 'Out of Our Schools' mass media campaign amidst a warning from Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton that Jamaica is in a crisis, with some citizens now being forced to adjust their lifestyles due to health challenges

The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has launched the JS 359:2022 Jamaican Standard Specification for Telemedicine, which provides the framework through which telemedicine may be safely practiced while upholding the integrity of the medical profession

The standard enables registered medical and other health and allied practitioners to use telemedicine tools in their daily practice, taking into consideration the importance of protecting patient information

Defined as the delivery of health and medical care services by a designated provider from a distance, telemedicine utilizes information and communications technology (ICT) tools for diagnosis, treatment, disease prevention, research and evaluation, and health education or counselling

These services may be provided via video, phone and Internet-based platforms such as web chat, digital applications, and web portals in Jamaica

Telemedicine appointments have become more popular over the last several years, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, giving rise to the need for standardized practices to regulate the sector

State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Dr Norman Dunn, in his address at the recent virtual launch of JS 359:2022, commended the BSJ and its partners for being responsive to the demands of a changing world through the development, review, and adoption of standards for this aspect of medical care

“I commend the team for its efforts and encourage you to remain alert to trends across the world that will help to advance Jamaica's preparedness to be a major global participant,” he said

BSJ Executive Director, Dr Velton Gooden, said the launch of JS 359:2022 forms part of the wider mandate of the agency to standardize the processes and practices in the healthcare system

He noted that the standard arose from the need to ensure the safety, quality, and reliability of healthcare being delivered remotely

“Standards development forms part of the BSJ's core functions and the national quality infrastructure of Jamaica for which the BSJ is a key pillar There is a standard for everything, and needless to say, there is definitely a standard for telemedicine,” he said

The standard covers provider-patient relationship; issues of liability and negligence; evaluation, management, and treatment; informed consent, continuity of care; referral for emergency services; medical records; privacy and security of patient records and exchange of information; prescription and reimbursement; and health education and counselling

“If you examine the health profile of our population, we are in a crisis which, if we were to be blunt, there is actually a lost generation around that crisis, a cohort of citizens who unfortunately will have to spend the rest of their lives trying to make themselves as comfortable as they can, but will never be the same in terms of being healthy, in terms of productivity, in terms of time they can spend with their family and friends,” Tufton told the launch of the campaign, which is in support of the first phase of the School Nutrition Policy

The policy is spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth

HFJ said the campaign will target stakeholders including students, parents, school administrators, vendors, and manufacturers on the importance of embracing healthier food options for children

According to the Foundation, 23 3 percent of Jamaican students aged 13 to 17 years are overweight, while 80 percent of all deaths in Jamaica are caused by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)

Tufton said the campaign is not focused on restriction, but on proper nutrition, adding that this is necessary, as the majority of older patients receiving hospital care are suffering from NCDs, which may be linked to their lifestyles in childhood

“Our children still have hope of a better, fulsome, and productive life We almost, as adults, have a duty, a burden, a responsibility to give them the best possible chance to fulfil that lifelong experience,” he said, noting that the policy is “ one of the most fundamental pieces of legislation around health and wellness, and if we get it right, we ' re going to start a trend for the better”