$72 Million to Implement Energy Efficiency Measures in Hospitals

Cabinet has given approval for $72 million to be used to finance the implementation of energy efficiency measures in four public hospitals. The four institutions are the Cornwall Regional in St. James; Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston; Princess Margaret in St. Thomas, and the St. Ann’s Bay Hospital in St. Ann.
Making the announcement at yesterday’s (March 22) post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman said that the move was expected to result in energy savings of some $25.5 million on an annual basis.”It is expected that the sum of $72 million would be recovered in less than three years based on the level of consumption in those institutions,” he added.
The effort to contain energy use in public hospitals is part of a larger Government initiative to conserve energy and cut the foreign exchange bill. An Energy Conservation Task Force has been established and Ministries have been directed to adopt strategies that will improve energy efficiency and ultimately reduce the dependence on oil.
The Ministry of Health has chosen to engage in an assessment of its efficiency levels and has targeted hospitals for priority consideration. Hospitals account for about five per cent of the total energy consumption within the public sector.
Still on the health sector, Cabinet also approved the award of contracts valued at $38.8 million to Hillrom Limited and Tyco Health Care to supply medical equipment for the Intensive Care Unit and Operating Theatres at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).
The equipment will include critical care ventilators and other standard equipment for operating theatres.
The UHWI is responsible for the procurement of medical supplies and equipment to be used at the institution. In accordance with established guidelines for procurement by public sector institutions, the hospital invited bids for the supply of equipment for the eight-bed intensive care unit and two operating theatres that are being constructed at a cost of $145 million.
“This represents another improvement for the health service being provided,” Senator Whiteman said.