New Pharmacy to Be Built at Linstead Hospital

Residents of Linstead and surrounding communities in St. Catherine are to benefit from a new pharmacy to be built on the compound of the Linstead hospital.

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, broke ground for the $31-million facility today (April 19).

Dr. Tufton said the new building should be completed in eight months, with more space for staff to deliver improved service.

Last year, the old pharmacy at the hospital received 30,000 visits, with over 50,000 prescriptions filled.

“There is no doubt about the value of the infrastructure to the community,” Dr. Tufton told the audience.

He said the Government is making large investments in the improvement of infrastructure, as this is crucial to the delivery of quality healthcare to persons who have to use the facilities.

“We have to continue to drive that process and find the resources to support it,” the Minister said.

Dr. Tufton noted that a major challenge facing the public health system is the issue of upkeep, and charged administrators at the Linstead Hospital to ensure that “you have capacity for maintenance”.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the funding agency, the National Health Fund (NHF), Gregory Mair, urged the contractor to deliver the project on time and within budget.

Also welcoming the project were Member of Parliament for North West St. Catherine, Robert Pickersgill, and Parish Manager for the St. Catherine Health Services, Dr. Beverly Needham.

In February, the Government opened the expanded Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at the hospital, which was constructed at a cost of $144 million, funded by the NHF.