226 Primary-care Facilities to Be Rehabilitated
By: , February 14, 2026
Photo: Adrian Walker
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, inspects the guard of honour during the 2026/2027 ceremonial opening of Parliament at Gordon House on Thursday (February 12).The Full Story
A total of 226 primary-care facilities are slated for rehabilitation and modernisation in the new financial year.
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, made the announcement while delivering the Throne Speech to open the 2026/2027 legislative year in Gordon House on Thursday (February 12).
He said that improvements will also be done on the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland and technical assessments will be undertaken to inform the reconstruction of the Noel Holmes Hospital in Hanover; Falmouth Public General Hospital in Trelawny; and the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth.
He further reported that preparatory works will commence for modernisation and redevelopment of the Kingston Public Hospital and a new type C hospital at Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine, “positioning the health system for resilience, equity, and future demand”.
Giving an update on major capital projects, the Governor-General told the Parliament that the Western Children and Adolescent Hospital in St. James, which will provide 220 beds, four operating theatres and diagnostic equipment, has advanced to 77 per cent completion.
He said that significant upgrades continued under the Health Systems Strengthening Programme.
In St. Catherine, the $5.5-billion Spanish Town Hospital redevelopment is 24 per cent completed; the $930-million Old Harbour Health Centre is at 74 per cent; and the $660-million Greater Portmore Health Centre upgrade and the $704-million St. Jago Park Health Centre expansion, are both 60 per cent finished.
In addition, rehabilitation of Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James is 85 per cent completed.
Turning to legislative priorities, the Governor-General said that reforms have progressed steadily, with advancement of the Tobacco Control Bill and the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Bill, alongside amendments to the Nurses and Midwives Act
and the Pharmacy Act to formally recognise and regulate Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, strengthening workforce flexibility and service delivery.
