IMAGING SPECIALISTS SHUN PUBLIC SECTOR HEALTH SYSTEM
ST ANN’S BAY; St Ann; April 10, 2025
By Abigail Williams
A shortage of radiologists in Jamaica’s public health sector has been causing long delays in diagnoses, leading to worsened health condition of patients, and strain on healthcare workers.
There are approximately 66 certified radiologists in Jamaica, according to research by this reporter.
However, of that number there are fewer than 10 in the public healthcare sector.
A senior radiologist gave this assessment from his knowledge: “There is a shortage of radiologists in the public sector, but not across the island. Kingston Public Hospital and Spanish Town Hospital have two, Bustamante [Hospital for Children] has two, May Pen Hospital has one, Mandeville Regional Hospital has a Cuban specialist, St. Ann’s Bay [Regional] Hospital has one foreign specialist, and Black River Hospital one foreign radiologist.”
(Two radiologists review an image as part of a diagnosis)
Since that interview, it was learnt that St Ann’s Bay no longer has a radiologist on staff.
Radiologists are specialists who use medical imaging to diagnose certain diseases. They are not the same as radiographers who, for example, do X-Rays and other diagnostic imaging.
The shortage throughout the public health system has resulted in longer waiting periods for testing and diagnosis for patients turning up with several illnesses, including cancer.
The consequences of the extended waiting periods are frightening for some.
A critical care registered nurse (CCRN) working in the Southern Region Health Authority (SRHA) said that the shortage of radiologists in the public sector has caused delays and setbacks for nurses and other healthcare workers at that and other facilities.
The nurse said that many patients need urgent testing and imaging for conditions such as cancer, as well as fractures and other trauma-related injuries, which may haunt them in the long run if not dealt with promptly.
“The patients have been suffering, and their conditions are getting worse,” stated the nurse.
She explained that nurses and other healthcare workers are faced with a backlog of patients due to the lack of sufficient radiologists in the public sector.
“The lack of radiologists at my hospital has caused delays in some surgical activities; the waiting time for appointments can be three to six months. Alternative measures the hospital has taken to cover the shortage of radiologists is that professional personnel from foreign countries such as Cuba have been hired, and placed in the most critical areas,” she added.
A representative from the Association of Radiologists confirmed the shortage of radiologists in the public sector. The representative said poor salaries and working conditions in the public system have led many to move to the better conditions and salaries in the private sector. “More radiologists would remain in the public sector if they had more sessions, as this would handle a great number of cases efficiently,” stated the representative, who spoke on condition of not being identified
The representative also spoke on the training pathways for desired radiologists in Jamaica. The representative stated that, “Becoming a radiologist requires individuals to firstly complete a medical degree, and then do internship and a residency program in radiology.”
However, the limited training opportunities has contributed to the shortage, as aspiring radiologists seek specialized training oversees and do not return to work in the public sector.
Healthcare workers affected by the shortage are calling on the government to address this issue by improving and providing incentives for radiologists, especially those in the public sector.
Based on the interviews conducted, an increase in salaries, better working conditions, and an investment in training programmes will aid in tackling the lack of radiologists on the island in the public healthcare sector.
