PLANS BEGIN FOR NCD’s NEW 5 STORY HOSPITAL
PLANS BEGIN FOR NCD’s NEW 5 STORY HOSPITAL
Plans are now underway for the NCDPHA and other major stakeholders to work together to build a new five (5), storey hospital for city residents with state of the art facilities.
The five hundred (500) bed facility which is certain to become the leading referral health hub of the country, would not only cater for the residents in NCD but also that of those from Gulf and Central provinces as well.
“It may serve almost 1.5 million people. This means that the Port Moresby General Hospital (POMGEN) will become a specialist referral hospital once this new hospital is completed. According to NCD Governor Hon Powes Parkop, who is also the Chairman on the Planning and Steering Committee of the new building, the new hospital will be a great benefit to all and would certainly help raise the health standards in the country.
With an estimated budget cost of K500 million, the hospital which could be called the NCD General Hospital should take at least four (4) to 5 years to construct.
According to Governor Parkop, a decision has already been made by the NEC for the construction of this huge project.
“And as Governor of this city, I am just taking the initiative to drive it forward into fruition. This is still a national project and I am hopeful and confident that the 2022 National Budget will also be able to cater for this major project,” said Mr Parkop.
“We have had so far had the NEC approval, the land and title secured and have also sought the physical planning and building board approval as well among other necessary requirements,” said Mr Parkop.
The Governor added, “We do not need the K500 million right away to begin, but any funding from K10-K20million should get the ball rolling,” he said.
Costs include K280 million for the accommodation and infrastructure development and K150 million for Hospital Equipment with another K70 million being for further project development requirements.
He added that the high powered inter government committee of stakeholder’s who attended the first steering and planning committee meeting today have all it takes to complete this major national project. They included senior representatives from the NCDPHA, NCDC, Departments of Health, Works, Finance, Treasury and Planning & Monitoring.
“And so in saying this, we must not only depend on the government for funding, but must also approach donor agencies. This steering committee may even do a presentation to JICA among other donor agencies to seek funding, as this is a very vital and important aspect of development for our people,” said Mr Parkop.
ENDS///
