Jamaica gov’t to spend up to $31.2 billion to fix health infrastructure

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, says the government is projecting to spend between US$205.7 and US$236.2 million or J$27.2 and J$31.2 billion over the next five years to fix old and decrepit health infrastructure across the island.

According to Tufton, this is the largest commitment by a Government in public health infrastructure in over 20 years.

In delivering his presentation in the Sectoral Debate in parliament this afternoon, he disclosed that the government signed a US$100 million financing agreement with the IDB last November to support public health.

The health minister said US$50 million or J$6.2 billion will be used to respond to the critical infrastructure needs in the areas of hospital beds, health centre upgrades, and the implementation of health information systems.

He said there are also plans to develop a more sophisticated digital technology for healthcare.

Tufton said this will entail the creation of integrated information systems for health, notably an electronic health records system, and the expansion of telehealth services in three health regions.