– bid documents being prepared
LAND preparation for the specialty hospital at Liliendaal has commenced as contractor, Bovel Constructions, who was  awarded a $97M contract to drain the land, land-fill and grade; and construct a fence, bridges, gates, culverts, access road, and install utilities has begun moving heavy machinery to undertake base work.
This component of the project is not covered in the financial arrangement between the Governments of Guyana and India through the EXIM Bank.
Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran, senior officials of the Health and Finance Ministries and the contractor conducted a site visit on Friday last.
Minister Ramsaran disclosed that the two ministries are currently preparing the bid documents for the design and construction of the hospital and for equipping it. He explained that upon completion, the documents will be sent to the Guyana Embassy in India to be advertised. This is being done because the project is being facilitated through an India line of credit.
The EXIM Bank of India has approved and made available the funding on concessionary terms for the construction of the hospital at Liliendaal.
The facility will receive referrals from the various hospitals. Despite the new facility, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the chief health facility in the country will still be continuously developed to provide additional services.
The new hospital will allow Guyanese to access the best quality tertiary health care at an affordable cost as Government will be entering into a partnership with a management group that will deliver those services. Additionally, the availability of the specialty hospital will reduce the number of people who travel overseas to receive medical attention, which can be expensive.
It is anticipated that the construction of this state-of-the-art facility will result in a quantum leap, with regards to health care delivery.
Government is working along with professionals internationally to establish the hospital and with Guyanese doctors to effectively operate the facility which will be providing 24 hours of service. The Ministry of Health is providing clinical and technical training so as to ensure the entire health care system, which includes the specialty hospital, has the required manpower.
In February 2011, former President Bharrat Jagdeo and then Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran visited India to finalise the agreement to construct the 250-bed hospital.
When completed, the hospital will be providing services including cardio-related and cosmetic surgeries and organ transplant. Construction is anticipated to commence by the first quarter of this year.