The Government has set aside more than $800 million for completion works and purchasing of machines for a Western Children and Adolescent Hospital in Montego Bay, St. James. Details are outlined in the 2025/2026 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives, recently. The project is aimed at building a 220-bed facility on the compound of the Cornwall Regional...

The Government has allocated $270 million for continuation of the project to transform the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). As contained in the 2025/2026 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the funds earmarked for the new financial year will help to improve patient experience at the institution. Anticipated targets for the new financial year include...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is commending the establishment of a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) at the private health facility, Hospiten, in Rose Hall, St. James. The US$900,000 facility marks the first of its kind in western Jamaica and is set to enhance healthcare accessibility for both locals and visitors alike. During an...

Hundreds of residents of Thompson Town and surrounding communities in Clarendon are now receiving improved services at the renovated health centre, done at a cost of $25 million. The project was carried out under the Government’s Operation REFRESH initiative and financed by the National Health Fund (NHF) and the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA). Improvements undertaken include the waiting area,...

The Princess Margaret Hospital in St. Thomas has taken steps to enhance patient service delivery through the introduction of its Family Care System. Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on Thursday (February 20), Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Dr. Dwight Whittle, explained that the system is designed to strike “a happy medium” between relatives of patients and their...

The Portland Health Department is urging residents to continue to practise influenza prevention-and-control measures such as proper hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette. Medical Officer of Health for the parish, Dr. Sharon Lewis, made the call while addressing the recent monthly meeting of the Portland Municipal Corporation. She said that the “influenza season is still on” and persons should...

The Portland Health Department is embarking on a programme to eradicate rodents from town centres. The parish has seen an increase in rat infestation in recent months. Public Health Inspector, Samuel Brown, said the programme will cost more than $16 million and will involve interventions such as setting baits and public education on how persons can assist in ridding their...