Arima hospital construction to start early 2013

Arimians can look forward to improved healthcare as the construction of the Arima hospital will start in the first quarter of next year and is expected to be completed in two years at a cost of $711 million. This was revealed in the budget document Stimulating Growth, Generating Prosperity: Public Sector Investment Programme 2013-2015.

The projected sum of $250 million would be required to continue construction in 2014 and $350 million for completion in 2015, the document said. Equipment is also expected to be increased and upgraded. The Hospital Enhancement and Development Programme, the body responsible for upgrade, will continue to focus on buying equipment for institutions run by the regional health authorities (RHAs).

“An allocation of $40 million is made for 2013 and it is projected that the sum of $75 million will be required in 2014 and $23 million in 2015 for the upgrade of equipment for the RHAs,” the document added. Within the next two years, the National Oncology Centre in expected to be completed. It will cost taxpayers $565 million.

The centre, the document said, will be located at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope and is expected to provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-art system of cancer control, including radiation oncology, and prevention and screening, which would reduce the incidence of cancer.

In looking at major health issues, the Ministry of Health is also expected to tackle several issues, including physical infrastructure of public healthcare facilities; reducing the prevalence of communicable diseases, including HIV/Aids; addressing chronic diseases and mental health; and examining human-resource deficiencies to make the ministry more effective.