Jamaica Healthcare System & Medical Insurance Options for Expats
Jamaica is a country with a vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and friendly local population. The Jamaica healthcare system makes basic medical care available across the island, though there are challenges related to infrastructure, quality, and access—especially in rural areas. The government has been making efforts to improve the quality of healthcare in Jamaica for its citizens. Sophisticated facilities for medical care in Jamaica— like trauma, specialists’ prognostics, and surgical procedures—are available mainly in Kingston and Montego Bay, whereas small cities, as a practice, have provisions for only primary health care. The island has numerous clinics and hospitals. However, the majority of them are inadequate in terms of quality. Here’s what you need to know about the Jamaican healthcare system and medical insurance options for expats.
Expats can certainly access services of private medical facilities. Private hospitals—including Medical Associates Hospital, Andrews Memorial, Heart Institute of the Caribbean, and Stony Hill Medical Center—offer superior quality Jamaican healthcare but usually require immediate payment and, in some cases, may not accept international insurance. Nevertheless, there may be cases of emergency health conditions or prolonged sicknesses, for the treatment of which, you may be required to travel outside the country. Due to limited provision of specialized services within the country and expensive air ambulance evacuations (generally in excess of US $50,000), international health insurance that covers health insurance in Jamaica is essential for expats when faced with a medical emergency.
Overview of Healthcare in the Land of Springs
In the past, the Jamaica healthcare system followed a primary organizational pattern for its medical facilities that was highly dependent on the nursing staff. The government sector, i.e., the Ministry of Health (MOH), laid the foundation for this system. A loosely regulated private sector accompanied this state-sponsored system. The country imports most of its drugs, healthcare supplies, and medical equipment. Additionally, only a few companies in Jamaica manufacture medical provisions.
The public sector has been derived from the British National Health Service model. It regards health as a public benefit and offers affordable healthcare. On the other hand, the private health insurance model provides insurance to around 10% of the public.
Numerous bilateral and multilateral institutions have been involved in the medical sector. IDB, PAHO/WHO, and other UN bodies assist several programs to fight against poverty and diseases.
How the Healthcare System Works for Expats
Although primary health care in Jamaica can be generally availed all through the island, specialized services remain restricted to urban areas such as Kingston and Montego Bay, with limited facilities in rural sectors. Therefore, expats as well as residents may have to contend with long wait times for surgical processes and diagnostics within the public sector. To deal with this, the government rolled out the “CODE CARE” project in the year 2022, in collaboration with five private players—University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Andrews Memorial, Heart Institute of the Caribbean, Medical Associates Hospital, and Winchester Surgical Institute—to help manage surgical inventories.
There is at least one small hospital in every area of the island. Despite that, for advanced emergency care, you must travel to cities like Kingston and Montego Bay. Emergency services are only available in big towns and cities. These services lack both quality and quantity, due to which patients have to travel out of Jamaica for emergency medical care.
So how many hospitals in Jamaica make up the country’s public health system? On the whole, as of 2025, 318 clinics and health centers and 24 public hospitals. On the other hand, the private sector includes around 10 private hospitals, in addition to numerous independent practices. The Ministry of Health website is the best place to get information on the hospital that is nearest to your location offering medical care in Jamaica. You can see a map of hospital locations along with their contact information.
Public Healthcare
Jamaica healthcare’s public domain has 24 hospitals that are governed by the country’s Ministry of Health. They offer free services or services at significantly subsidized rates; nevertheless, a large number of facilities are struggling with problems such as overcrowding, shortage of resources, and inadequacies of qualified personnel. This is the reason that both residents and expats prefer to go for private care. There is a considerable difference in the quality of service provided by each of them.
The majority of government hospitals have more patients than they can handle. The funds they get from the Jamaican government are insufficient. There is also a shortage of skilled personnel. These are some of the reasons both locals and expats prefer to seek treatment through the private healthcare system in Jamaica.
Private Healthcare
Private healthcare in Jamaica comes across as an option to the overloaded public system. It offers quality medical care in Jamaica in a caring environment, with availability of qualified professionals and shorter wait times. Nonetheless, the treatment here is expensive.
Thus, international citizens living in Jamaica, who can afford treatment in private hospitals, prefer this option. A major part of the local community cannot afford private healthcare and Jamaica health insurance on their own. This is one of the main reasons for public hospitals often getting overcrowded.
Emergency Medical Services
To call an ambulance in the Caribbean nation, the Jamaica healthcare system requires you to dial 110. The Jamaica Fire Brigade’s EMS operates from only six fire stations across the island (e.g., Ironshore, Negril, Lucea, Linstead). In a number of regions, if EMS is unable to arrive on time, callers would likely be required to connect with private ambulance providers or local fire stations directly. As soon as the dispatcher confirms your location, they will transfer your call to the fire station and ambulance station that is closest to your location.
Medicines and Pharmacies
The National Health Fund Pharmacy Information Management System has been operational in a number of public drug-serving pharmacies. Throughout the country, there are about 318 public clinics and health centers, and approximately 495 combined pharmacies (which include both public and private).
Here is a one-stop link that gives you a list and details of 27×7 pharmacies all over Jamaica.
Best Private International Medical Insurance Plans for Expats in Jamaica
The Jamaica healthcare system may not be of the same quality that you get in your home country. This applies to both public and private institutions. It is important to understand that the island nation has no treatment for quite a few chronic medical problems. Therefore, in a crisis medical condition, evacuation may be the only option. You may be evacuated to a neighboring country with adequate medical care – this may include Miami in the United States, so you may want a global health plan that includes treatment in the USA.
As an expat, you need to have the right plan within the Jamaica healthcare system throughout your stay in the country. There are many affordable options from leading international insurance companies like Cigna Global. You must have an international health insurance plan before you relocate here. A good health insurance Jamaica plan gives you easy access to all private hospitals and clinics on the island.
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