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The government has announced plans to build a brand new hospital in Belize City. Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard confirmed that the cabinet has given the go-ahead and construction is expected to begin soon. Love News understands that there are still some details to be worked out before actual work can begin, including consultations with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the institution that conducted a comprehensive study of the Carl Huesner Memorial Hospital’s capabilities and infrastructure.
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness “When we had CABEI do the study across the country, I would say that while KHMH was one of them, there were other studies that were done for hospitals in the northern region, in Punta Gorda, so KHMH was also looked at. We did a complete study on KHMH and based on the recommendations, it was recommended to build a new tertiary hospital for the Belize District. We are considering whether to use the same location or to find another location within the city that is suitable enough and easily accessible, either from the north or from the west. We are considering options on Chetumal Street or Lake I Avenue. There is a large area next to the new Treasury Building that we can use as a hospital. Again, what we would say is that when we build these facilities now, we want to make sure that the quality of service is also built into these buildings because you want to make sure that these investments last a long time. KhMH has fulfilled its mission. In fact, sometimes you want to go there and make improvements, but it would be a waste of investment, so it is better to start looking at what is being done. I know we are working with the KHMH authorities through the support of the BTB and the Ministry of Health. We have invested in the emergency room, and I know they have invested a huge amount of money in improvements. So it is not that KHMH We are only doing this to provide better facilities for the people of Belize.”
Minister Bernard explained that in addition to building new facilities, the government is looking for ways to make health services more affordable and accessible to residents.
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness “As you know, KHMA is currently the only hospital in Belize District, aside from our polyclinic, Matron Roberts and other hospitals that provide secondary care. So we are looking at other options to make secondary care services more accessible to the people of Belize. I don’t want to disclose that information just yet, but we are looking at something similar to what other district hospitals have done, which is eliminating secondary fees and so on, but we have to have a full discussion with KHMH to see how that will benefit the people of Belize District. But KHMH, yes, so Cabinet, what happened is the feasibility study was done and now we go back to CABEI for them to finalize the plans and say okay, this is what we are going to do. So they will give us the final decision whether we go to a new facility or build on the space identified in the existing facility. But again, like I said, this is big news for our country. This is about improving the level of service. As you know, KHMH has been providing many great services to the people of Belize. We have one of the best ICU units. We have a cardiology project currently underway. So we have to look at all of those things.”
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital was completed in September 1995. Before KHMH, there was the old Belize City Hospital on Eve Street
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