Health ministry's list of approved labs highlights severe PCR testing capacity shortfall in Jamaica

Eight local labs - Andrews Memorial Hospital, Microlabs Ltd, Sure Time Medical, Central Medical Lab, Technology Solutions Ltd, Jamaica Defense Force and Winchester Medical Lab - have all been authorized to conduct only antigen testing for the coronavirus. However, CARIGEN Laboratories is the only non-governmental facility issued with a "no objection" authorization to provide the public testing for the SARS-Cov-2 Virus.

This revelation was made in a communication from the health ministry to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) president, Keith Duncan, a copy of which Old Harbour News has received and verified to be authentic.

• Canada’s Covid travel rule puts pressure on Jamaica

In its missive dated January 6, 2021 under the signature of MOHW permanent secretary, Dunstan Bryan to the PSOJ, the health ministry advised the private sector group that all the aforementioned laboratories have been "granted it's no objection for their engagement by the general public" for antigen and PCR testing of the coronavirus "having complied with the requirements of the Disaster Risk Management Act".

By this evidence it has corroborated a serious issue first raised in an article published by Old Harbour News that Jamaica is severely limited in its capacity to efficiently perform PCR testing of the general population for Covid19.

Jamaica's situation has been brought to bear at the turn of the new year when the Canadian government made it mandatory for travellers intending to enter the country to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test result performed 72 hours prior to boarding a flight. Only a PCR test result will be accepted, as rapid antigen testing is said to be inferior and less accurate.

Jamaica's lack of capacity to perform PCR testing has triggered criticism particularly among travellers. One has to join a very long queue to secure an appointment online with Microlabs, which handles bookings for CARIGEN Laboratories and the University Hospital of the West Indies through swabtostatus.com offering the service virtually.

Obviously both labs are limited in their scope to test a high amount of specimen on a daily basis while offering a maximum turnaround time of 48 hours to notify persons of the outcome of their status.

In listing the approved labs, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton wrote on Twitter: “After completing PAHO/MOHW training on antigen testing, these are the private labs/ entities authorized to conduct testing. Please look them up if you prefer a paid for service. Otherwise visit your local health centre or hospital for more details on free testing.” Still, the ministry is yet to indicate if it intends to approve other private labs to ease the pressure.

After completing PAHO/MOHW training on antigen testing, these are the private labs/ entities authorized to conduct testing. Please look them up if you prefer a paid for service. Otherwise visit your local health centre or hospital for more details on free testing. pic.twitter.com/SXShQTLWkY

— Dr. Chris Tufton (@christufton) January 9, 2021

The already stuttering tourism sector is likely to take another major hit as a result of this weakness in the system, as travellers from either nations have been rescheduling or cancelling flights whether to or out of the island.

Canada, along with the US and the UK, is among Jamaica's top-three trading partners with deep-rooted links economically and culturally. Thousands of persons travel between both countries on a weekly basis even in light of newly imposed restrictions.

It is unclear if local laboratories are facing any massive challenge in terms of upgrading their capabilities to conduct testing of the coronavirus using the PCR method. An online search revealed starting price for PCR machines is US$5,000 to as high as US$70,000, exclusive of shipping and custom duty. 

Meantime, Old Harbour News understands that a meeting involving the MOHW, the PSOJ and the Jamaica Medical Association is being organised to establish a clear path forward.

The Ministry of Tourism is yet to make an official comment on the matter, however, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has written to the Canadian Government urging Ottawa to reverse the new rule which it says is harming an “already stressed” public health system and causing “further damage to the region’s economy”.

“This policy is creating challenges and places even greater economic hardship on the people and governments of the Caribbean and on the thousands of Canadians currently in the Caribbean who are scheduled to return home in the coming weeks,” said CHTA’s Acting CEO and Director General Vanessa Ledesma.

“As the policy takes effect, we anticipate many stranded Canadians being unable to return home due to their inability to get tests in the required time.”