KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Medical Doctors' Association (JMDA) is calling on Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton to issue an apology for statements he reportedly made regarding interns who staged an islandwide protest on June 24, 2026. The JMDA, in a press release on Tuesday, dismissed claims reportedly made by Dr Tufton that interns at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) protested in the Accident and Emergency Department regarding the lack of bedspaces for patients within the UHWI. According to the JMDA, interns across the island engaged in a protest action to register their concerns relating to what it termed as “brutal” work schedules, shifts that sometimes stretched past 48 hours straight and the lack of suitable facilities for them to sleep.
It said the inability of interns to recuperate adequately can pose a danger to patient care. "It is disheartening to realise that the minister is unable to identify the inhumane conditions in which the doctors must function, the dissatisfaction among the interns and what the doctors have to present to the country as healthcare," the JMDA said. The association called for Dr Tufton to change his statement, apologise to the interns and state accurately the facts as they are so that the nation will not be misled.
The minister is reportedly set to invite the JMDA to the discussion table to discuss concerns relating to the interns. HEALTH Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has offered an olive branch to president of the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) Dr Renee Badroe who on Tuesday called on him to “apologise” for statements he reportedly made regarding a protest staged by interns last month. Dr Badroe had earlier in the day issued a statement in which she described as “untrue” comments attributed to the minister.
She maintained that Tufton said “interns at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) protested in the Accident and Emergency Department regarding the lack of bed spaces for patients within the UHWI”. She painted a picture of a minister out of touch with the realities on the ground. The JMDA would appreciate it if the Honourable Minister would change his statement, apologise to the interns, and state accurately the facts as they are so, that the nation will not be misled in this matter,” Dr Badroe said.
According to the JMDA president interns across the island participated in the June 24 protest and their concerns related to brutal work schedules — shifts that sometimes stretch beyond 48 hours straight. “Even after these long shifts, there is nowhere suitable for them to sleep at many of the facilities. This inability to recuperate adequately can pose a danger to patient care,” she said as she urged the health minister to address the underlying issues.
Contacted by the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, Tufton said he will be inviting the JMDA to the discussion table. “I intend to invite them to a meeting to discuss the matters of concern relating to the interns once the final report from the audit team is received,” he said while stressing that he has no desire to become embroiled in a public spat. According to a release issued by the health ministry, a day after the interns’ protest Tufton directed management of the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) and UHWI to immediately action a series of measures aimed at addressing the concerns raised by the medical interns regarding working and living conditions across the public health system.
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