THE GOVERNMENT of Barbados is working to complete the St John Polyclinic, which has been designed to greatly improve the delivery of primary health care services to the people of that parish.
The facility is also expected to relieve some of the patient load presently experienced by the Glebe Polyclinic in St George, and the St Philip Polyclinic, at Six Roads.
A statement from the Ministry of Health, through the Government Information Service, indicated the construction of the new polyclinic, located at the Glebe, was “very near completion”.
“The major outstanding areas are the air conditioning system and the main car park, which are still to be finalised. The entire facility then has to be inspected and commissioned. This work should take about two-and-a-half months to be completed. Most of the equipment for outfitting the polyclinic has been purchased and is being kept in storage,” the statement indicated.
The Ministry also disclosed that the projected final cost of construction was less than $30 million Barbados dollars.
The new St John Polyclinic will provide all of the regular health care services, such as general practice, child health, dental, and pharmacy, among others. In addition, there will be an ambulance bay and physiotherapy services, and provisions are being made for x-ray services.
The polyclinic is seen as a community multi-purpose centre, which will also accommodate the Welfare Department, the Constituency Council, a branch of the National Library and a gym. It is expected that the building will serve as a model for the organisation of health and community services in the future. (PR)
