Health Ministry receives equipment to support electronic immunisation registry

Jamaica's push towards a fully digitised healthcare system received a major boost, with the handover of US$1.3 million worth of equipment to support the country's Electronic Immunisation Registry (EIR).

The EIR is a digital system designed to track all vaccine doses administered to individuals, and it replaces traditional paper records with a more efficient and reliable method of data collection and storage.

The donation was done as part of a partnership involving the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Pan American Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and the Government of Canada.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton received the equipment during a ceremony at the St. Ann Health Department in St Ann on December 11.

In his remarks, he said the equipment was an important piece of infrastructure to support 18 EIR pilot projects currently under way across the island.

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“We're in a pilot stage… which includes two private entities. That's significant because it's not just about the public [health] system. It's about all the systems around immunisation. We want one set of data that represents the entire society to do several things,” he stated.

According to the minister, having one integrated system for immunisation data across the country will allow health authorities to clearly identify gaps, monitor communities or institutions with low response rates and plan targeted interventions.

Tufton indicated that the timing of the initiative was also critical, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

He pointed out that the category-five system resulted in the loss of important documents for both patients and healthcare workers, and so moving towards a digital system reduces the vulnerability to damage from natural disasters.

In the meantime, Canada's High Commissioner to Jamaica, Mark Berman, noted that Canada was pleased to support Jamaica in reaching this milestone in modernising its health system.

He said the EIR will drive evidence-based decision-making in healthcare, as well as build a foundation for stronger health planning and outcomes.

“This comprehensive support has included targeted technical systems, collaboration on an integrated workplan led by the MOHW to guide the piloting of the EIR solution and a study tour to Uruguay by Jamaican health officials to gain valuable EIR insight and best practices,” he underscored.