May Pen Hospital’s new $642m outpatient building to be completed in 16 months
Published:Monday | July 7, 2025 | 12:07 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
A $642-million development project at the May Pen Hospital in Clarendon has been hailed by stakeholders as a forward-thinking and transformative investment in the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
Last Friday, ground was officially broken and contracts signed for the construction of a new outpatient department (OPD) building, being developed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness through its Health Systems Strengthening Programme (HSSP). The project, to be executed by Jiangsu Zhenhuai Construction Group Co Ltd, is expected to be completed within 16 months following the contractor’s mobilisation to the site.
Eugena Clarke-James, chief executive officer of the hospital, described the project as a testament to the facility’s commitment to delivering “exceptional service” to the people of Clarendon and surrounding parishes.
Edith Chin, custos rotulorum for Clarendon, also lauded the initiative.
“There are times in the life of a parish when we witness steps being taken that will strengthen the fabric of our community, and this afternoon is one such time.”
Chin continued, “What we celebrate here today is a commitment to better care, greater access, and a stronger health system. The construction of the new outpatient department reflects a forward-thinking investment in the lives of our people, and a clear path to improved service delivery.”
The new facility will offer a wide range of services, including general consultations, specialist clinics, cardiology, laboratory services, and minor procedures. The 2,040 square metre structure has been designed to enhance patient flow, improve comfort, and support more efficient delivery of care.
Wayne Chen, chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), described the expansion as a long-awaited dream.
“This hospital – a Type-C hospital – serves people in St Catherine, St Ann, Manchester, and that is a testament to the work of the staff here who have worked under very constrained circumstances for a very long time,” said Chen, adding that the current infrastructural design of the hospital was not conducive to the kind of pressure to which it is exposed.
He also noted the hospital’s workforce had grown significantly, from 2,000 employees in 2016 to more than 3,000 full-time staff in 2025 — a feat he posits as a clear indication of the facility’s expanding role in the regional health system.
Under the HSSP, the new OPD will also support digital transformation in healthcare, featuring structured information technology and server rooms to facilitate electronic health records (EHR). The building will include accessible features such as lifts and wheelchair-friendly restrooms, in addition to a staff lounge, changing rooms, a conference room, and other staff amenities.
Orett Clarke, HSSP’s project coordinator, noted that extensive groundwork had already been done to prepare for the development — including perimeter fencing, relocation of the main entrance, and infrastructure upgrades to the hospital’s sewage network.
“We also upgraded the sewage network on the compound to ensure that this new building will start on solid, modern infrastructure without causing disruption to existing systems,” Clarke said.
Among the attendees was 2025 Miss Clarendon Festival Queen, Rhaveen Kildare, a third-year medical student, who expressed optimism about the project.
“It is encouraging to see such a patient-centric development. As someone deeply committed to healthcare and to my community, this gives me hope that I may be able to complete my internship and rotation activities right here in my home parish,” Kildare shared.
Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of health and wellness, described the initiative as a critical milestone in the country’s ongoing healthcare transformation, particularly in the fight against non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses, which remain the leading causes of death in Jamaica.
“This project reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening primary and secondary healthcare infrastructure, with a focus on accessibility, quality, and resilience. The people of Clarendon deserve world-class facilities and services, and this new department is a key part of ensuring they receive just that,” said Tufton.
He confirmed that May Pen Hospital was the eighth of 13 facilities to receive major upgrades under the HSSP.
“But, as a Government, we’re not stopping here. The progress in Clarendon over the last five years is proof of this,” he added.
Tufton also referenced past improvements under the Inter-American Development Bank expansion project, including $30 million in roof repairs at the May Pen Hospital, and the hiring of additional doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals across the parish to reduce wait times and improve patient outcomes.
Additional infrastructure upgrades include a $73 million air conditioning retrofitting project executed by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and the energy ministry, and a 40-bed field hospital — valued at $185 million — donated by the United States government during the pandemic.