The Greater Portmore Health Centre in St Catherine will be upgraded to a Type 5 (Comprehensive) facility. The $660 million project, which aims to improve healthcare delivery, was officially launched on Wednesday, December 11, with the groundbreaking ceremony being led by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton.

The expansion is part of a broader $10 billion investment by the Jamaican Government in healthcare infrastructure across St Catherine, as part of the Health Systems Strengthening Programme (HSSP). This programme, a collaborative effort with international partners such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union (EU), is designed to improve primary healthcare delivery and provide modern healthcare facilities to communities across the parish.

Dr Tufton called the Greater Portmore Health Centre expansion a step in the right direction for primary healthcare services. The upgraded facility will feature dedicated spaces for various medical specialities, including X-ray, oral rehydration, laboratory services, isolation, asthma treatment, diabetic retinopathy, and physiotherapy. Additionally, the facility will include a new administrative department with office spaces, training areas, a conference room, staff lounges, and nurses’ stations.

“The Greater Portmore Health Centre expansion is an investment in the people of Portmore,” said Dr Tufton, emphasizing the project’s importance in improving healthcare access for the community. He also highlighted that the new design would offer healthcare staff a more comfortable working environment, contributing to higher productivity and faster patient care.

Member of Parliament for St Catherine North Fitz Jackson expressed his support for the project, noting that the expansion would address the community’s growing healthcare needs.

Natacha Marzolf, Country Representative for the IDB, stressed the crucial connection between quality healthcare and economic development. She noted that this expansion will ensure that residents can access more high-quality health services in one location, which will contribute to the overall well-being and development of the community.

EU Ambassador to Jamaica, Dr Erja Askola, also commended the initiative, emphasizing the EU’s commitment to improving healthcare across Jamaica.

In addition to the Greater Portmore Health Centre expansion, other projects in St Catherine under the HSSP include the redevelopment of the Spanish Town Hospital and the upgrading of the St Jago Park and Harbour health centres.