Ground broken for new medical tower at Jamaica’s University Hospital of the West Indies

The expansion of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Kingston, Jamaica, took a major step forward on August 7 with the groundbreaking ceremony for a new, state-of-the-art medical tower.

The upcoming six-storey facility will be the first of its kind in the region designed specifically to address time-sensitive emergencies in cardiology and neuroscience, such as heart attacks and strokes. It aims to enhance the efficiency of clinical assessments, diagnostics, and minimally invasive treatments within the critical four-hour window, all under one roof.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, who led the ceremony, underscored the UHWI’s pivotal role in training doctors and nurses, and providing leadership in healthcare.

“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. This is where the personnel, the labs, and the other critical equipment are,” said Dr. Tufton.

He emphasised that modernising UHWI is a priority of the current administration, linking the project to a broader 10-year strategic plan unveiled in 2018 aimed at overhauling Jamaica’s health infrastructure.

“The decision was primarily and fundamentally based on the need for this institution to provide a greater level of service going forward. Now the rest of the plan is in the making,” he added.

The new tower will include a pharmacy, diagnostic and radiology units, minor operating theatres, a neonatal intensive care and special care nursery, wards, and administrative offices.

St. Andrew Eastern Member of Parliament, Hon. Fayval Williams, welcomed the development, highlighting it as a significant advancement in the modernisation of healthcare facilities dedicated to delivering effective, compassionate, and inclusive care to Jamaicans.