JAMAICA’S remarkable sporting legacy, highlighted by milestones such as the 1998 World Cup qualification and nearly 100 Olympic medals, underscores the nation’s sporting prowess. However, sustaining this success requires more than talent and training — it demands robust legislative frameworks, high-quality health care, and effective administrative systems. Unfortunately, athlete health is not adequately prioritised, and urgent reforms are necessary to address this gap.

Challenges in sports health care

Jamaica’s health-care system for athletes lacks the infrastructure needed to prevent and manage injuries effectively. Young athletes, in particular, often abandon their dreams due to the inability to afford diagnosis, rehabilitation, or necessary therapies. This scenario represents a national crisis, especially when considering the financial toll of sports injuries globally, which reached billions of dollars in countries like the United States and Europe. Jamaica lacks comparable data and resources to address the issue comprehensively.

Monitoring systems are essential for understanding the scope of sports-related injuries and guiding policy and financial decisions. Without such data, athletes’ right to health remains unfulfilled, with many events lacking adequate medical personnel despite the availability of qualified practitioners. A “quick-fix” mentality further exacerbates the problem, encouraging athletes to mask injuries rather than seek proper care. This neglect prolongs recovery, leads to recurring injuries, and causes permanent damage, often derailing careers.

Regulation of health care providers in sports is critical. Unqualified individuals administering care put athletes at risk and undermine the integrity of health care and sports systems. Injury prevention, particularly for junior athletes, must become central to safeguarding their futures. Celebrating pathways without ensuring safety comes at a significant cost.

Collaboration among policymakers, health care professionals, and sports organisations is vital to creating a robust health care system for athletes. Public education efforts should focus on promoting athlete health as a shared responsibility. Addressing disinformation and empowering athletes to advocate for their health-care rights are critical for Jamaica’s future sporting success.

Why NSEMC?

The proposed National Sports and Exercise Medicine Centre (NSEMC), outlined in the 2013 National Sport Policy, could revolutionise athlete care in Jamaica and the Caribbean. This centre would centralise treatment, offering evidence-based care through licensed professionals such as sports doctors and physiotherapists. It would enhance injury prevention, standardise care protocols, and ensure high-quality rehabilitation and return-to-sport strategies.

The NSEMC would address gaps in the current system, bridging the divide between prevention and treatment. By fostering a holistic approach to health and wellness, it would demonstrate Jamaica’s commitment to safeguarding athlete welfare and maintaining its competitive edge globally.

Call to action

The lack of qualified health-care providers and regulatory oversight jeopardises athlete health and Jamaica’s sporting reputation. Establishing the NSEMC and strengthening policies to mandate credentials, licensing, and monitoring for sports health care professionals is urgent. Evidence-based care must be prioritised, and public advocacy is necessary to hold legislators accountable for creating robust frameworks.

By rejecting complacency and advocating for high-quality health care, Jamaica can protect its athletes from preventable injuries and substandard care. Collaborating to safeguard athlete health is essential to preserving the nation’s sporting legacy.

Offniel Lamont is a public health advocate and registered physiotherapist with an MSc in sports medicine, exercise, and health. He specialises in preventing, monitoring and managing sports injuries, particularly among young athletes, and combating non-communicable diseases through comprehensive sports and health care management.