#Kingston, May 8, 2019 – Jamaica – The Government is projecting to spend between $27.2 billion and $31.2 billion over the next five years on public health infrastructure development.
This was disclosed by Minister of Health and
Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, during his contribution to the
2019/20 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 7.
“This will represent the largest investment
in over 20 years in public health. This is not a wish; in fact, there are
resources that are already in place. We have resources where the expenditure
will begin this year,” he noted.
Some of the health facilities to be upgraded
include the Spanish Town Hospital ($3.1 billion), St. Ann’s Bay Hospital
($463.3 million), Kingston Public Hospital Improvement Project ($2.3 billion), May
Pen Hospital ($238.3 million), Cornwall Regional Hospital ($3.5 billion), and
the Western Child and Adolescent Hospital ($5.7 billion).
Health centres to be upgraded include the Greater
Portmore Health Centre ($344.1 million), Old Harbour Health Centre ($489.7
million), May Pen West Health Centre ($132.4 million), Chapelton Community
Hospital ($18.5 million), Mocho Health Centre ($26.5 million), Brown’s Town Health Centre ($211.8 million),
Lionel Town Health Centre ($18.5 million), and St. Ann’s Bay Health Centre
($105.9 million).
The Minister also informed that a financing
agreement valued at US$100 million was signed in November last year with the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB) to support public health.
Some US$50 million (J$6.2 billion) will be
used to respond to the critical infrastructure needs in the areas of hospital
beds, health centre upgrades, and the implementation of health information
systems.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tufton said almost J$1 billion
has been committed to begin the process of installing health information systems.
“This will see integrated information systems
for health, notably electronic health records system, and the expansion of
telehealth services in at least three health regions,” the Minister said.
Contact: Latonya Linton
Release: JIS