‘We outlived the services at NA hospital’ – Health Minister says new facility to be built

A new hospital will be built at New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne), Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony revealed on Monday.

“We strongly believe that we have outlived the services of that hospital, so very soon, we will be starting the construction of a new, New Amsterdam Hospital,” Dr. Anthony told residents of Fort Ordinance during a visit to the community.

According to him, the new hospital will offer the “best of surgery” and other specialised services.

The existing hospital is the most advanced in Region Six and it is the biggest hospital in Guyana after the Georgetown Public Hospital, which is the country’s main referral hospital.

In Region Six, the New Amsterdam hospital is complemented by the Skeldon hospital, though a new hospital is also being constructed near the existing one at Skeldon.

Dr. Anthony explained that the construction of new hospitals in the region is part of the government’s efforts to expand healthcare delivery across the country. To do this, a total of 12 new hospitals are being constructed.

At least six of those hospitals are being built by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, a Chinese state-owned enterprise commonly referred to as Sinopharm.

Asked for further details on the new facility at New Amsterdam, Dr. Anthony said construction will commence shortly and a public launch will be done.

He was also asked if the construction of this facility is catered for in the 2023 National Budget and he responded, “It is… It is ready to start, it will start soon.”