– Minister Ramsaran
– first floor to be handed over early April
MINISTER within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran yesterday inspected the progress of work on the new in-patient facility being constructed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Following the conclusion of the inspection, Dr. Ramsaran disclosed that the facility is 85 percent completed and the first floor is expected to be handed over to the hospital’s administration by early April.
This new facility is an indication of the support given by the Administration towards continuously enhancing the health sector, with more comfortable environments and higher quality health care for patients.
Dr. Ramsaran emphasised that the Health Ministry is working closely with the contractor to accelerate the completion of the facility; as a result of which work is being done during the night as well under flood-lights.
He noted that the completion of the new wing would offer significant relief to both patients and staff in the receipt and delivery of services which are currently being done in cramped conditions.
It is expected that when the first floor is completed and handed over to the hospital’s administration, 114 beds will be moved into the new wing. Subsequent to that, another 100 beds will be moved into the facility.    
During yesterday’s visit, the contractor indicated that work including painting of floor, installation of fixtures and electrical fittings, rehabilitation of ramp and cleaning are some of the remaining tasks to be completed prior to the first floor being handed over. 
In this regard, Chairman of the Executive Board of Directors of the Health Sector Development Unit (HSDU) Mr. Keith Burrowes called for the man-power to focus their efforts on the first floor so as to fast-track its completion, on time.
In this regard, he requested that a floor plan be submitted allowing effective monitoring of the progress of the work.
In the 2010 national budget, $716M was allocated to commence the first phase of the new in-patient facility at GPHC, while in 2011 an additional $235M was budgeted for its completion. (GINA)