By Breaking Belize News Staff: Construction of San Pedro’s first public general hospital continues despite delays and public concern over reports of increased costs exceeding the original $33 million dollar allocation provided by Taiwan.
This week, officials toured the construction site to address concerns and provide an update on the long-anticipated project, which broke ground in March 2024 and is expected to become one of the country’s largest healthcare facilities.
Project support officer David Schart explained to 7News Belize the outline of the 37,000-square-foot structure.
Schart explained, “And over here we have restrooms, waiting area, and then you have your reception and through there you go through a double set of doors to access the clinic area where there are 4 clinic rooms, triage rooms and to the right we have the administrative offices and a sub panel electrical room. Through a next set of double doors we reach our pharmacy area, and the main access stairwell to the second and the roof level.” The walkthrough provided a glimpse of what the facility will offer once completed.
The hospital was initially expected to be completed by December, but construction setbacks have pushed the timeline into next year.
Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez said the delays are not linked to financing but rather to construction-related challenges and coordination among agencies involved in the project.
Perez stressed, “I think the most important thing here is to give out the message to the entire community and the country about the importance of this hospital and how it is coming along and as you can see while it may be a bit delayed it is actually being done correctly and I think that is the most important factor that we must be focusing on that this entire structure of 37,000 square feet is built adequately.”
Perez said labor shortages tied to San Pedro’s booming construction industry, along with technical adjustments and oversight from various stakeholders, contributed to the delays.
He noted that the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, and the Pan American Health Organization are involved in ensuring the facility meets required standards.
According to Perez, “We all know the construction industry here in San Pedro is booming and as such one of the draw backs they are getting is it is delayed a bit but none to say that it is on target to finish by early next year.” He also said the hospital is expected to be the largest medical facility outside of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Perez also acknowledged that material and labor costs have increased and discussions are underway with the Ministry of Finance, contractors, and the Government of Taiwan.
The hospital is expected to be completed by April next year.
The post Construction costs higher than expected for San Pedro Hospital project appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Construction of San Pedro’s first public general hospital continues despite delays and public concern over reports of increased costs exceeding the original $33 million dollar allocation provided by Taiwan. This week, officials toured the construction site to address concerns and provide an update on the long-anticipated project, which broke ground
The post Construction costs higher than expected for San Pedro Hospital project appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
