Jamaica’s healthcare infrastructure is set for significant improvements as the government moves forward with long-awaited projects, including a new operating theatre at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Hanover and upgrades to the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland. Regional Director for the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), St Andrade Sinclair, announced that the tender process for the operating theatre will commence this Saturday. The project, which has been in the pipeline for over a decade, aims to replace the hospital’s original theatre, which has been non-operational for nearly 30 years. Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton emphasized the government’s commitment to funding the initiative, which is expected to begin in 2024. In addition to the theatre, plans are underway to address overcrowding and space limitations at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital through a $1-billion project to construct a new accident and emergency (A&E) department. The three-phase initiative will include a diagnostic area, laboratory, and expanded bed spaces. Minister Tufton also highlighted efforts to resolve a non-functioning sewage system installed in 2016, with procurement for a new contractor currently in progress. The government aims to finalize the contract by the end of the year, ensuring the hospital’s facilities are fully operational.