Returning Residents Guide - A Complete Safety & Security Guide to Coming Home to Jamaica

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Section 7 – Special Guidance for Families with Children

• Paediatric Care: Bustamante Hospital for Children (Kingston) is the only specialist children’s
  hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean.


• Vaccinations: Ensure your child’s immunisation record matches Jamaican requirements (MMR,
  polio, BCG, hepatitis B).


• School Health Requirements: Some schools require health certificates for entry.

Section 8 – Health Emergencies

Emergency Numbers in Jamaica:

• Police: 119


• Ambulance & Fire: 110

 Ambulances are limited and sometimes delayed. Many families drive patients directly to hospitals. In
rural areas, this reality must be planned for.

Section 9 – Cost of Healthcare

Healthcare costs vary widely, the below is a rough guide:

Service Public Private

GP Visit Free–$ 30 $40–$80

Specialist Visit $15–$30 $100–$200

Hospital Admission Free (public) $200–$400/day

CT Scan $80–$100 $250–$400

Prescription Drugs Subsidised via NHF $20–$100

Section 10 – Wellness & Lifestyle

Healthcare is not only hospitals — it’s about lifestyle.

• Spas & Retreats: Jamaica has a growing wellness tourism sector (herbal medicine, yoga retreats,
  Blue Mountain hiking).


• Alternative Medicine: Traditional herbs like cerasee, soursop leaf, and guinea hen weed are
  widely used.


• Nutrition: Farmers’ markets provide fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices.