KINGSTON, Jamaica. Tuesday, June 10, 2025: The Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, is to award another $500 million to the successful applicants for this year’s Dr. Barry Wint Memorial Scholarship.
In announcing the continuation of the programme during his Sectoral Presentation on Tuesday (June 10), Minister of Health & Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, MP, noted that, “these scholarships will be targeted to areas where we have shortages and are trying to fill gaps in our human resources requirements”.
As such, this year’s scholarship offering will favour persons who are pursuing studies in biomedical engineering, medical physics, occupational therapy, radiation therapy, and dental nurse therapy, in addition to third- and fourth-year nursing students.
Jamaica, as other countries of the developing world, continue to face significant human resources for health challenges due to migration and the competitive compensation packages overseas.
The introduction of the Dr. Barry Wint Scholarship Programme forms a part of Government efforts to train and retain talent for the health sector.
It is expected that the scholarship programme is, by 2027, to have yielded some 63 nursing graduates, four (4) biomedical engineers, three (3) social workers and 15 diagnostic imaging professionals who will serve the public health system.
By 2028, the programme is to see the addition of 56 nurses; 10 midwives; and nine (9) social workers trained to serve the public health system. By 2029, the programme is to see the addition of 134 doctors and 42 dentists.
Scholarship applications open this year on Wednesday, June 18, with graduate and postgraduate students eligible to apply. The recipients will be bonded to work in the public health system for a period.
The scholarship programme, which is named in honour of former Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Barry Wint, saw the offer of some 600 scholarships in first year, last year, with 536 offers taken up at a total cost of approximately $355.5 Million.