Gov’t Investing $31.2Bn To Build Out Public Health Infrastructure

  • The Government has committed up to $31.2Bn to build out the public health infrastructure over the next three years, according to the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton. He noted that this level of investment is the most significant for hospital upgrading since independence in 1962. The plan includes the construction and rehabilitation of 13 facilities, comprising ten health centres and three hospitals under the Health Systems Strengthening Programme. 
  • Existing structures, built decades ago, cannot meet present demands, and the current environment demands a modern and technologically advanced infrastructure as well as the appropriate human and technical resources. 
  • This will ensure that the Jamaican healthcare system has the capacity to respond to a rapidly changing health environment, an ageing population, and high levels of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are responsible for over 70.0% of all deaths in Jamaica. 
  • The work will be undertaken through funding arrangements with local and international partners such as the National Health Fund (NHF), the European Union (EU), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). 
  • This development will position the health sector to more adequately meet the needs of those who require health care services, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and, expectations from the World Health Organization that the world is at increased risk of the spread of infectious diseases going forward. It will also help Jamaica advance on its health related vision 2030 plans and should also support continued growth in the construction sector.

(Source: JIS News & NCBCM Research)