Construction to begin on state-of-the-art health centre in Old Harbour
Published:Thursday | October 17, 2024 | 12:14 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has announced that construction will commence immediately on a new, state-of-the-art health centre in Old Harbour, St Catherine.
The US$6-million facility, funded through the Health System Strengthening Programme, marks a significant investment in Jamaica’s healthcare sector.
Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, Tufton emphasised that the new health centre would stand apart from other facilities in the country.
“This facility is offering what no other facility has offered to date. It is not just about the size and the newness of it, but the kind of diagnostic equipment that will be here. Pharmacy and labs are major additions so they don’t have to go to Spanish Town. It is going to offer specialised services, where specialised doctors will come periodically,” he said.
Larger investment
The project is part of a larger US$148-million investment to transform Jamaica’s health sector by 2029, with US$87 million provided by the Government of Jamaica, a US$50-million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank, and a US$10-million grant from the European Union.
The new facility, which will be built on 2,000 square metres in Old Harbour Bay Town Centre, will offer advanced services, including telemedicine, allowing patients to receive remote treatment, and digitised healthcare, which is currently being piloted by the Ministry of Health but will become standard at this centre.
Tufton also acknowledged the challenges of maintaining the facility in the long term.
“The maintenance issue is a big issue, so part of the agreement with the new dispensation in building out hospitals and health centres is a new service-level agreement with the regional health authorities, where we will have more routine maintenance. We won’t buy equipment unless there is an extended service contract to accompany the buildout,” he said, adding that the ministry is considering outsourcing the plant’s maintenance.
On the progress of the Spanish Town Hospital’s new multimillion-dollar facility, Tufton reported that foundation work is under way but faced delays due to preparatory tasks. Contractors, he said, assured him that “they will use night lights if possible to stick to the completion deadline”.