The original article can be found in: Trinidad Guardian By RADICA SOOKRAJ
Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan says the Point Fortin Hospital is not under construction yet because the original user brief, done under the PNM government, was inadequate. “We have redesigned the user brief, which goes to the people who will then design and equip the hospital,” he said. “The user brief has been sent off almost two months now for redesign.” Khan explained that the Point Fortin hospital is being built with a government-to-government concessional loan.
“The Ministry of Finance has contracted the Ambassador of China to secure the loan and the loan payments at a small interest rate…The Government of China will decide on the contract and they will build the hospital,” he said. Saying he was hoping to start building the hospital by January once procedures were in place, Khan said he wanted to complete the Point Fortin and Arima hospitals in 18 months.
On the shortage of nurses at the Point Fortin hospital, Khan called on all retired nurses to come on board and join the ministry. He said any local nurse who is having difficulties with the various regional authorities can contact him directly. He said the construction of the Cedros Health Facility may not be in this year’s budget but he will look at improving it using funds from the Infrastructure Development Fund.
He said the CEO of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) had assured him that extended hours and an ambulance service were in place at Cedros. “If this is not being done, someone will have to pay the price,” Khan said. On the construction of the Arima hospital, Khan has accused the Urban Development Company of T&T of dragging its feet.
Speaking in a telephone interview yesterday, Khan said he was hoping to start work on the Arima facility by December. He added that the ministry had already completed user briefs and the project was submitted for tendering months ago. Contacted yesterday, chairman of Udecott Jearlean John said she had no comment to make on Khan’s statements.
