Work to Begin Soon on Phase One of UHWI Redevelopment Project

Work is slated to begin soon on Phase One of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Redevelopment Project.

This will include the realignment of the Ring Road, which is a key infrastructure enhancement that will facilitate the phased development of medical towers on the hospital grounds.

These high-rise towers are part of the hospital’s strategic initiative to upgrade existing medical facilities, accommodating the growing healthcare needs of the public over the medium to long term.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, signed a $278-million contract and broke ground for the undertaking, today (February 20), at the hospital’s premises in St. Andrew.

He was joined by Chairman, UHWI, Patrick Hylton; Head of Neurosurgery and Medical Chief of Staff, UHWI, Dr. Carl Bruce; Minister of Education and Youth and Member of Parliament, St. Andrew Eastern, Hon. Fayval Williams; Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton; Managing Director, Dwight’s Construction, Benton Woodbine; and Acting Chief Executive Officer, UHWI, Fitzgerald Mitchell.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Holness said the modernisation and expansion works are critical to the delivery of healthcare in the island.

He argued that the contract signing and ground-breaking ceremony marks the beginning of a transformative chapter in the history of the University Hospital of the West Indies, noting that the current hospital infrastructure, with its aging buildings and inefficient layout, poses numerous challenges, from maintenance issues to overcrowded departments.

Mr. Holness said the proposed redevelopment aims to address these challenges by modernising facilities, enhancing departmental synergy and expanding critical-care services.

He added that the incorporation of modern technologies and the provision of state-of-the-art facilities will further elevate the hospital’s status and capabilities, ensuring that the UHWI remains a centre of excellence in the region.

“Today, we sign a contract for $278 million – phase one, which will be to realign the Ring Road, to demolish some old buildings… to make way for a green field, meaning a clear area in which we can construct this wonderful six-storey building, which will have important services, operating, surgery and ward spaces and specialist services. That will improve the healthcare that Jamaicans have access to,” he said.

The Prime Minister said expansion of the infrastructure is critical to address the needs of the population, noting that spatial development is paramount to address the land issue in Kingston.

“In the next 50 years of our development as a nation, we’re going to have to be looking very carefully at our spatial development,” he argued.

He said it is hoped that the redevelopment project at UHWI can be used as a model.

“I need this project to be done efficiently. It must be done on time, and it must satisfy all the stakeholders, because we need to hold it up to say, ‘See, here is what we have done, and if we did it here, we can take this model and carry it elsewhere,” Mr. Holness said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said he will continue to implement projects that will improve the lives of Jamaicans. “My job as Prime Minister is to improve the lives of Jamaicans, and I will implement any good idea or good project that does that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tufton said the undertaking forms part of projects to advance the health system in the country.

He thanked the team at the UHWI, external partners and other stakeholders for the work that has been done.

“Let’s continue the work for the people of Jamaica,” he said.

For her part, Minister Williams said the multi-storey medical facility will have a positive impact on healthcare delivery in the island.

In the meantime, Mr. Hylton said the UHWI represents an important health institution, noting that the undertaking is a start of the process of building a new physical infrastructure.

For his part, Dr. Bruce informed that discussions have commenced with the National Housing Trust (NHT) regarding accommodation for the emergency staff that reside on the compound to provide care.