After Old Harbour tour, Greater Portmore Health Centre expansion on track

This update was provided by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, during a tour of the facility yesterday. Dr. Tufton welcomed the significant progress observed on-site.

Work completed to date includes site preparation, demolition, and foundation laying. The main structural elements—walls and columns—are now in place. Roofing is approximately 75 per cent finished, while internal works have progressed to rough casting and rendering. Ceiling installation is also nearing completion.

Concurrently, the installation of critical engineering services—including electrical, plumbing, sanitation, and fire safety systems—is underway and is approximately 35 per cent complete. The upcoming phase will focus on tiling, painting, and the installation of windows and doors, followed by landscaping and the retrofitting of tools and medical equipment.

Upon completion, the expanded centre will offer a comprehensive range of services. These will include laboratory services, X-ray, oral rehydration, isolation facilities, treatment and procedure rooms, an asthma bay, diabetic retinopathy screening, and physiotherapy services with dedicated examination and exercise rooms.

Support spaces will feature administrative offices, staff lounges, training rooms, a conference room, and nurses’ stations to enhance both service delivery and workforce development.

The tour was attended by key stakeholders, including Mr. Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union in Jamaica. The EU is the primary funder of the construction works through an investment grant.

This expansion project, with an estimated total investment of JMD 660 million, is being implemented under the Health Systems Strengthening Programme (HSSP). It forms part of a broader initiative to modernise Jamaica’s public health infrastructure. Construction is being carried out by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

While construction is funded primarily by the European Union grant, the Government of Jamaica is providing additional support for furniture, equipment, and sewage works.

Once finished, the expansion will upgrade the facility from a Type 3 to a Type 5 comprehensive health centre, marking a significant increase in service capacity. This upgrade is expected to greatly improve healthcare delivery for the Greater Portmore community and reduce pressure on nearby hospitals, such as the Spanish Town Hospital.

This is the second tour of the new year by Dr Tufton and HSSP officials following a similar visit to the Old Harbour Comprehensive Health Centre, a Type 5 facility, currently 75% complete.