PM rejects ‘political arguments’ criticising Gov’t’s healthcare wins
Published:Wednesday | January 17, 2024 | 12:11 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
In an unscripted response to criticism from Spanish Town Mayor Norman Scott, Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday defended the Government’s healthcare initiatives during the contract signing and groundbreaking ceremony for the redevelopment of the Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine.
Scott, while welcoming the new state-of-the-art hospital complex, took a swipe at the Government, describing the current healthcare system as unfit for human beings. He also criticised the delayed completion and budget overruns of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) upgrade project.
“We have seen the kind of conditions that the citizens of Jamaica have been enduring in the healthcare system, one that is not suited for humans,” Scott said while calling for the Government to put an end to the crisis.
He added: “This is the Spanish Town Hospital, and what is going to take place here must end within the time designated for completion, unlike what is happening at the Cornwall Regional Hospital,” Scott noted.
The upgrade of the CRH is expected to be completed in 2026, a year later than the deadline last provided by Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton.
Holness, in direct response to Scott’s comments, explained the challenges faced during the upgrading of CRH. He highlighted the lack of maintenance over the years, leading to the deterioration of the institution.
The prime minister emphasised the absence of necessary skills in Jamaica to handle the building of hospitals, stating, “To build a hospital is no simple exercise; we don’t have the skills here, so we are climbing a steep learning curve, building those skills that we will now have to take on more hospital projects.”
“So, I reject any argument that will be made politically to diminish the value of what the Government has undertaken and achieved,” he stated.
Courageous move
Holness then defended the decision to invest resources in renovating CRH, stating that it was a courageous move to improve healthcare infrastructure after experts were suggesting that it would have been better to abandon the 52-year-old hospital and build a new one.
Acknowledging the frustrations of citizens in accessing healthcare, Holness urged the public to consider the decisions made by previous administrations that may have led to current challenges.
He argued that proper management of taxpayers’ money enabled the Government to allocate US$87 million to match a $10-million European Union grant and a $50-million loan from the IDB for the Spanish Town Hospital redevelopment project.
The Spanish Town Hospital is set to undergo a transformative upgrade, becoming a six-storey facility spanning 17,000 square metres. The comprehensive redevelopment, which is to begin right away and is expected to take place over 24 months, will include dedicated areas for accident and emergency services, radiology, outpatient services, pharmacy, endoscopy units, surgical suites, intensive care units, laboratory, medical records, staff lounge, and underground staff parking.
The new hospital is expected to offer specialised services in urology, oncology, cardiology, ophthalmology, and psychiatry.
In the meantime, Dennis Robotham, president of the St Catherine Chamber of Commerce, expressed optimism about the project’s potential benefits for the parish and Spanish Town. He emphasised the importance of prioritising both skilled and unskilled labourers from the parish, ensuring that businesses in the community also reap the rewards.
Robotham additionally called for attention to upgrading the infrastructure in Spanish Town, considering it a crucial aspect of the overall development plan.