Push on for more private doctor involvement in COVID-19 vaccination programme

The president of the National Health Fund (NHF), Howard Mitchell, is strongly arguing in favour of private doctors becoming more involved in the COVID-19 immunization programme.

Mr Mitchell, a former president of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) has also declared that the private sector is willing to pay persons who will work with the doctors.

He wants the matter addressed before more doses of the vaccine arrive so that the next phase is smooth, following the frustration experienced by persons who turned up for their second dose of  the vaccine.

Dr Andrew Manning, President of  the Medical Association of  Jamaica, who joined Mr Mitchell on Radio Jamaica’s Beyond the Headlines, agreed that there is scope for greater involvement of  private doctors in the vaccination programme but he said there are details which need to be addressed in order to ensure a smooth process.