Women in western Jamaica are facing significant difficulties accessing mammography services as a shortage of functioning equipment continues to affect breast cancer screening across the region.
The Jamaica Observer reports that Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James currently has the only functioning mammography machine serving the four parishes under the Western Regional Health Authority.
The situation has resulted in a backlog, with patients reportedly facing waiting periods of approximately three months.
The National Health Fund (NHF) says it is developing plans to introduce a mobile mammography service that would travel across the island and improve public access to breast cancer screening.
NHF Chief Executive Officer Everton Anderson indicated that the initiative remains in its early stages, with further information expected in the new year.
The shortage has also affected patients seeking private screening services. A private medical facility in St James that normally provides mammography services is reportedly without a functioning machine.
Western Regional Health Authority Clinical Coordinator Dr Delroy Fray explained that the public hospital’s equipment must prioritise public cancer patients, limiting its availability to other individuals seeking examinations.
The situation has raised concerns about access to early detection services, particularly for women who must travel outside their communities to receive screening.
Health officials continue to emphasise the importance of accessible breast screening services, while the proposed mobile programme is being considered as a possible way to address the shortage.
For now, patients in western Jamaica continue to face limited options as authorities work toward improving access to diagnostic services.
