Government signs agreement to begin work on Acute Referral Hospital

The Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on Friday, July 26, 2024, signed an agreement with the Taiwan firm, Overseas Engineering and Construction Company (OECC), to commence work on the construction of the Acute Referral Hospital at Arnos Vale.

A release from the Agency for Public Information (API), states that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves signed the agreement with the Company to begin construction of the modern facility.

The hospital will be constructed on the northern side of the runway of the decommissioned E.T Joshua Airport tarmac, and OECC was due to take control of the site from Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at Cabinet Room, Minister of Health, St. Clair Prince said the Government is delighted with the continued modernisation of the health sector, noting that the Milton Cato

Memorial Hospital, the primary public health care facility, has many challenges in terms of layout and functionality and its inability to expand.

Prince said it is vital that this new hospital is being constructed in order to respond to the challenges and needs of the changing times. He also expressed thanks to the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and said he is confident that OECC will complete the hospital within the projected time.

The project would allow the Government to be better able to respond to public health emergencies and build resilience. Health services would be expanded, and there will be the introduction of new services such as Cardiology, Neurology- including enhanced acute stroke care, Thyroid services, Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases care, enhanced Ophthalmology as well as major invasive surgeries.

The estimated total cost to construct and equip the hospital is US$110 million and it is projected to take 32 months to be completed.

The Milton Cato Memorial Hospital will transition into a Maternal Child and Health Centre of Excellence facility once the Acute Care Hospital becomes operational.