Gov’t to save $400m in Rental Costs from St. Joseph’s Hospital Redevelopment

JAMAICA:  The Government is expected to save $400 million annually in lease and rental costs, consequent on the redevelopment of the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kingston.
Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the redevelopment will result in the provision of office space to accommodate the Ministry of Health’s corporate operations.
Additionally, he said the hospital will accommodate a Centre of Excellence for cancer care, as well as nephrology – the branch of medicine that deals with the physiology and diseases of the kidneys.
The Minister made the announcement during the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on April 12.
Meanwhile, Senator Reid announced that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has committed approximately J$1.4 million (US$12,000) towards activities commemorating this year’s14^th anniversary of Vaccination Week in the Americas.
The week, which will be observed by countries regionally, including Jamaica, from April 24 to 30, will be observed under the theme: ‘Go for the Gold! Get Vaccinated’.
The activities will target populations with limited access to regular health care, for the provision of immunisation services, thereby strengthening the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the Americas.