With good financing terms, Austrian company building US$161M NA hospital

Austrian firm, Vamed Engineering, is constructing the new US$161 million hospital at New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) and Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony says this company was picked for the job because of the funding it brought in.

Dr. Anthony confirmed on Wednesday that Vamed was constructing the new hospital.

“Vamed is building the paediatric maternal hospital and we are working with Vamed to build the New Amsterdam hospital.

“Vamed brought in financing and so part of the arrangement is that they have been able to secure financing at very concessional rates and that’s why we will go with them,” Dr. Anthony said.

He added, “It’s financing that is coming in from Europe but at very concessionary rates but this is because of the Austrian government’s involvement.”

Already, Vamed is constructing and equipping the €149 million Specialised Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara. Dr. Anthony said the firm is a “reputable international company” that constructed more than 1,000 hospitals worldwide.

And he explained that the financing the company is bringing in is made possible through an agreement between the Governments of Guyana and Austria. That agreement was signed in 2018.

At the weekend, Dr. Anthony announced that a contract was signed for this new hospital; days later, the News Room reported that the hospital costs US$161 million.

The new hospital will replace the existing New Amsterdam Hospital which, Dr. Anthony said previously, has outlived its 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.

The new facility is expected to comprise about 220 beds and five operating theatres.