Centre of Excellence to be Opened in Santa Cruz November 29

The Santa Cruz Health Centre, in St. Elizabeth, will be officially re-opened as a Centre of Excellence on Friday, November 29.

This was disclosed by Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson, during the official re-opening ceremony of the Charles Chin Loy Health Centre in Western Kingston, on Thursday, November 28.

The Santa Cruz Health Centre is one of four islandwide, which the Ministry has identified and earmarked for transformation into Centres of Excellence.

The others are: the Isaac Barrant Health Centre, St. Thomas; Claremont Health Centre, St. Ann; and Darliston Health Centre, Westmoreland.

He noted that the facility will “take health care closer to the people of Jamaica,” and pointed out that more persons are seeking medical care at secondary and tertiary health institutions for conditions, which can be easily and readily addressed at primary facilities.

Development of Centres of Excellence is central to the administration’s focus on primary care renewal.

The centres, according to Dr. Ferguson, are expected to offer a range of provisions, including diagnostic services, which some persons believe can only be accessed at hospitals.