Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has dismissed reports that the completion date for the restoration of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) has again been set back.

According to Tufton, he was misquoted in a recent media report about a further delay in the work which has already missed several deadlines.

“First of all, I didn’t say some of those things that were reported, about 13 times missing a time line, and it’s wrong, it’s inaccurate,” said Tufton.

Last week, during a tour of the reopening of the Catherine Hall Health Centre in Montego Bay, St James, Tufton expressed hope that the restoration of CRH would be completed by the end of the 2026 calendar year.

“I said that Cornwall Regional Hospital and Western Child will be completed this financial year, but I’m hoping to complete it [CRH] this calendar year. The financial year ends in March, but we’re hoping we can be completed by December,” Tufton told the Jamaica Observer on Friday following a ceremony at the National Chest Hospital where the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) unveiled five new vehicles it has acquired.

He added that the Government is sticking to the timeline he announced during his presentation in the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in May.

At that time, Tufton listed CRH among other health-care facilities to be upgraded in the 2026/2027 financial year.

He said the upgrade at CRH would include 12 new operating theatres, 430 in-patient beds, intensive care and high-dependency units, expanded outpatient clinics, diagnostic equipment, staff area, staff lounges, and waiting areas for patients and visitors.

The minister admitted that there have been many delays in the full restoration of the CRH based on a rescoping of the work as it was discovered that the problems were more extensive than initially assessed.

“We realised that it’s not just an air conditioning system. It’s far more than that. Wet walls, burst pipes, roof leaking. And so what we’re doing is literally building a new hospital. And we have said that to the people of Jamaica. And I believe they won’t have any regrets when it is open,” said Tufton.