Chest Hospital blood collection centre to undergo $16-million facelift amid critical shortage
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Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Krystal Lee, (seated left) and Leon Grant of Skymar Building Construction and Maintenance Limited at the contract signing for the rehabilitation of the blood collection centre at the National Chest Hospital in St Andrew, on May 8, 2026. They are flanked by (from left) Desmond Hinds of the Ministry of Health and Wellness; Dr Kamille West-Mitchell, director of the National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank) and Barrington Graham, CEO of the National Chest Hospital. (Contributed photo)
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The National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank). (File photo)
The National Chest Hospital Blood Collection Centre is set to undergo major rehabilitation works following the signing of a $16-million contract on Friday, part of a wider push to strengthen voluntary blood donation and improve national supply capacity.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness said the upgrade comes as Jamaica continues to rely heavily on a system that currently collects between 35,000 and 40,000 units of blood annually against significantly higher demand for surgeries, trauma care, and maternal emergencies, a ministry statement said.
Minister of State in the ministry, Krystal Lee, said the initiative is aimed at shifting the country away from replacement donations toward voluntary and repeat blood donation.
“This targeted national focus on blood collection calls for a culture shift away from the practice of replacement donations and instead towards voluntary and repeated blood donation,” Lee said.
She stressed that sustained donations are essential to maintaining supply stability, noting that “repeat donation is the key to building a safe and sustainable blood supply.”
"Eevery donation is a precious lifesaving gift,” Lee said.
The Chest Hospital blood collection centre, which accounts for up to 8,000 units annually or about 22 per cent of national supply, is one of the country’s major collection points, the ministry said.
The rehabilitation works form part of a broader programme to restore and upgrade the facility’s structural integrity, functionality, safety, and operational efficiency. The $16.6 million contract was signed with Skymar Building Construction And Maintenance Limited, which was represented by Leon Grant.
It's expected that much of the works will be completed in time for the annual World Blood Donor Day commemorations on June 14.
According to project details, the scope includes general building repairs, roofing and waterproofing works, painting and finishing, air-conditioning installation, and upgrades to electrical and plumbing systems. The works also cover termite treatment and improvements to utility infrastructure to support modern equipment.
Key objectives include improving building safety, enhancing donor comfort, strengthening durability, and increasing operational efficiency.
The ministry said the upgrades are expected to improve the donor experience and support increased collections over time.
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