By the Caribbean Journal staff

A major new hospital has officially opened its doors in Jamaica.

The $19.3 million USD Hospital Montego Bay was officially opened by the Spanish-owned Hospiten group in the Rose Hall area of St James.

The hospital is the only private Jamaican hospital with an Intensive Care Unit outside of Kingston.

The facility includes 22 in-patient beds, seven emergency boxes, two operating rooms, a delivery room and eight outpatient rooms.

It also includes a CT scanner, mammography, x-ray and ultrasound machines.

The aim of the hospital is to attract both locals and medical tourists to the country.

“Tourism and Hospiten have walked hand in hand for many years. As Jamaica grows as a quality tourist destination, Hospiten will work towards covering the healthcare needs of this beautiful island,” said Dr Pedro Luis Cobiella, president of Hospital.

Hospital has several other hospitals in the region concentrated in the Dominican Republic.