Historic agreement signed with Jamaica
The Government of Jamaica and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today in Toronto. This agreement helps set the stage for new levels of collaboration in health care system development in Jamaica.
The Honorable Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Minister of Health of Jamaica, and a team of senior health care leaders from Jamaica, the University Hospital of The West Indies, Culture Health Arts Sports and Education Fund and the National Health Fund, were part of a high level delegation that travelled to Toronto this week to tour Sunnybrook and exchange ideas on health system development. This builds upon a previous visit of Sunnybrook leaders to Jamaica, where discussions occurred with the Most Honourable Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller and the Honourable Minister of Health related to health system development.
Jamaica and Sunnybrook are exploring a wide range of areas to collaborate in health care, with a view to building a long-term partnership where Sunnybrook and Jamaica can learn from each other. Priorities for shared learning in the partnership include the development of systems of cancer care, emergency pre-hospital care, trauma and emergency medicine, chronic disease management, medical and health information technologies, health human resources training and education, research and innovation platform development, international best practices and health care infrastructure development.
The Honourable Minister of Health expressed his enthusiasm: "This is a glorious and historic day for the Ministry of Health and by extension, Jamaica. It represents another example of what is right and good for Jamaica. I look forward with great anticipation to the roll out of this MOU which will continue to strengthen the bond between two great nations and with our Jamaican brothers and sisters in the Diaspora."
"We have long-standing and deep ties with Jamaica," said Dr. Andy Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Executive at Sunnybrook. "We look forward to partnering with the Minister of Health, the great team at the Ministry, Jamaican clinical leaders, funding agencies and many others, to help invent the future of health care in Jamaica."
Full media release
Government of Jamaica and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto) sign historic agreement
Toronto, ON (August 22, 2013) - The Government of Jamaica and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Sunnybrook) signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today in Toronto.
This agreement helps set the stage for new levels of collaboration in health care system development in Jamaica.
The Honorable Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Minister of Health of Jamaica, and a team of senior health care leaders from Jamaica, the University Hospital of The West Indies, Culture Health Arts Sports and Education Fund (CHASE) and the National Health Fund, were part of a high level delegation that travelled to Toronto this week to tour Sunnybrook and exchange ideas on health system development. This builds upon a previous visit of Sunnybrook leaders to Jamaica, where discussions occurred with the Most Honourable Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller and the Honourable Minister of Health related to health system development.
Jamaica and Sunnybrook are exploring a wide range of areas to collaborate in health care, with a view to building a long-term partnership where Sunnybrook and Jamaica can learn from each other. Priorities for shared learning in the partnership include the development of systems of cancer care, emergency pre-hospital care, trauma and emergency medicine, chronic disease management, medical and health information technologies, health human resources training and education, research and innovation platform development, international best practices and health care infrastructure development.
The Honourable Minister of Health expressed his enthusiasm: "This is a glorious and historic day for the Ministry of Health and by extension, Jamaica. It represents another example of what is right and good for Jamaica. I look forward with great anticipation to the roll out of this MOU which will continue to strengthen the bond between two great nations and with our Jamaican brothers and sisters in the Diaspora."
"We have long-standing and deep ties with Jamaica," said Dr. Andy Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Executive at Sunnybrook. "We look forward to partnering with the Minister of Health, the great team at the Ministry, Jamaican clinical leaders, funding agencies and many others, to help invent the future of health care in Jamaica."
Jamaican's Consul General to Toronto, Mr. Seth George Ramocan, and leaders of the Jamaican Diaspora Canada Foundation, who are great supporters of Sunnybrook, are eager to participate in the evolution of health care in Jamaica, were also present for the signing.
The Jamaican Ministry of Health has a mission to ensure the provision of quality health services and to protect and promote healthy lifestyles and environmental practices for over 2.7 million Jamaicans. The vision of the Ministry is "Healthy People, Healthy Environment.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is one of the largest and most comprehensive teaching and research health sciences centres in Canada. Fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, Sunnybrook is a multi-specialty hospital with an annual operating and research budget of $1 billion CAD and more than 10,000 staff, physicians and volunteers who provide care for 1.2 million patients each year. Sunnybrook's international consulting, humanitarian and training endeavors are coordinated through Sunnybrook International.
Media Contacts:
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - 416.480.4040
The Ministry of Health of Jamaica - 876.317.8721
