Linstead to get new Drug Serv Pharmacy

Residents of Linstead and surrounding areas in St Catherine will soon benefit from added pharmacy services with the construction of a new pharmacy building at the Linstead Hospital.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton broke ground yesterday for the construction of the $31 million facility, which will have an outpatient dispensary and a waiting area.

The project, which is expected to be completed before Christmas, is being funded by the National Health Fund.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Tufton cautioned the contractor that the expectation is for the project to be completed on time, within budget, and as per specifications.

"When I became health minister, I requested an audit of projects that were outstanding. Too many projects have been started and delayed for one reason or the other, so I made a commitment to correct this," Tufton disclosed.

Turning to the structural issues confronting the Cornwall Regional Hospital, Tufton said that they are a manifestation of an underfunded health sector for which successive administrations have to share the blame.

"The reason why we are in this situation is because we have a heavily underfunded health sector in Jamaica," said Tufton as he called for the discussions addressing this weakness in the health sector to be elevated.

He said that emphasis must be placed on preventative methods focusing on the treatment of infrastructure once it has been erected as governments do not give priority to the maintenance of these facilities and repairs are usually very costly.