Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton says the government remains committed to improving the country’s health infrastructure, despite public scepticism surrounding the nearly $14 billion University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Medical Tower project.

Tufton acknowledged concerns about the scale and cost of the development, but stressed that the investment is both necessary and strategic.

“There are some who feel that, why are we spending almost $14 billion on the University Hospital of the West Indies, when it attracts a fee in some instances for those who want access, and there are other hospitals across Jamaica that need upgrading. We take the point that our health infrastructure needs upgrading across the board, and indeed, this government is doing more than most to do that upgrade,” Tufton said.

The minister explained that Jamaica’s healthcare system functions as a hub-and-spoke model, with the UHWI playing a central role in training medical professionals and leading research and innovation. “If the University of the West Indies is not in a position to train more doctors and nurses to fill the gaps that exist out there, then we would likely lose the full optimised benefit of having an improved system by just building out hospitals and health centres in the rest of the country. Because this is the place to provide the leadership.”

Tufton also emphasised the importance of the UHWI in sustaining the broader healthcare ecosystem. “This is where the heart of the research in medicine takes place. This is where most of the experts are concentrated. This is where most of the teaching has to take place, both in practical and in theory, the personnel and the labs and the other critical equipment.

“We have to ensure that you are modern and modernised so that we get the benefit of your much broader mandate than just treating patients, as is the case across the country. And so the expansion here is both strategic and fits into our overall plan, as it is very tactical in terms of the implementation of that plan,” he continued.

He also said the development of the new medical tower is a forward-looking initiative intended to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.

“This government has approached the development of our health system, recognising that it has been significantly underinvested and undercapitalised over many, many years, and that the health profile of the population requires a significant overhaul. And we have provided the resources as a government, as a cabinet, and the management and leadership, to begin that process. And the evidence is tangible, so everyone can see,” he added.