Minister of Health, Social Security, the Environment & Ecclesiastic Relations, Senator Ann David-Antoine has given the assurance that the vital areas needed to deliver better health services in time for the 2007 Cricket World Cup will be completed on time.

The minister was addressing officials at a ground-breaking ceremony for Phase II of the General Hospital last week Thursday at the old hospital site. Among the officials present were senior government ministers and engineers from Venezuela who will be spearheading the project and staffers from the Ministry of Health, David-Antoine used the occasion to quash rumours in some quarters in and outside Grenada that the island would not be able to host the ICC Cricket World Cup in April next year.

"Most of you must be saying that we would not be World Cup ready! Well I have been given the assurance and with the confidence that I have in that assurance, wish to inform you that levels one and two of the project will be completed by December 2006", she told the gathering. She said that the vital areas needed for the games will be included in the first two-story of the building.

These include the Accident and Emergency Department, X-Ray Department, Physiotherapy and Bio-Medical Maintenance Department. The final drawings of the five-story building will comprise the following: Level 1 (Basement) - Imaging Department, Storage, Bio-medical maintenance, General maintenance; Level 2 (Street Level) - Pharmacy, Accident & Emergency, Physiotherapy, Billing & Admissions Office; Level 3 - Laboratory, Endoscopy, Out-patient Clinic; Level 4 - Private Ward (Male & Female), Orthopedics; and Level 5 - Administration, School of Medicine, Day Care Ease.

The total cost for the construction of this Phase is US $13.5 million dollars and it is anticipated that work on the entire project will be completed and handed over by December 2007. Sen. Antoine acknowledged that government recognised that with the delays in the commencement of work on Phase II and the damages caused to the island as a result of the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 that the conditions under which services were delivered at the new hospital in St. George's were not always ideal.

She identified the weak areas as the Laboratory, X-Ray and Accident and Emergency Departments where staff have been functioning in cramped work areas. The senior government minister said that the construction of Phase II of the hospital will not only address the issues currently existing but will also ensure that staff facilities are provided to meet the needs of staffers.

She also announced that the time has come for government to review its health financing mechanisms, user fees and levies, and contributions direct and indirect to the advancement of health services in Grenada.

According to Sen. Antoine, the delivery of health services is highly subsidized in the country and that on an annual basis the government spends more than $60 million dollars in recurrent and capital expenditures in the health services sector. She was at pains to point out that the time has come when everyone needs to focus on the contribution that they can make to the development of the health services.

Sen. Antoine stressed that the Ministry of Health has begun reviewing its user fee structure and is encouraging all nationals who are able to make a contribution towards their health care to start doing so now.
She also extended thanks to the government and people of Venezuela for the role that they are playing in the construction of the phase II of the hospital.