CONSTRUCTION OF A MODERN, CLIMATE SMART GENERAL HOSPITAL IS A NECESSITY, SAYS PRIME MINISTER DR. DREW

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 07, 2023 (SKNIS) – Prime Minister and Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew has given the commitment of his administration to build a modern, climate-smart general hospital in St. Kitts to transform the delivery of quality healthcare services in the Federation.

While giving an account of the operations of the ministries under his purview during the Tuesday, March 07, 2023, sitting of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Dr. Drew stated that the construction of a new hospital is a necessity to combat the adversities of climate change.  

“We need a smart hospital. We want to build a smart facility—smart, climate-smart, technologically smart. We do not have a hospital that is ready to deal with climate change. The hospital in its state cannot withstand it and we know that already. If we want to invest to repair the [current JNF General] hospital, it might cost more than a new hospital. So, a new hospital is not a want, it is a need. We need a smart institution. Climate change is upon us. Our infrastructure was not built to deal with climate change,” said the Honourable Dr. Drew.

Dr. Drew said that his Government is actively looking into suitable locations where the hospital can be built to serve the entire populace.

“We have identified looking at different areas, one being down in the area next to the Ross Medical School on the other side [of the road] where we have some land. That is a possible site because it gives you the opportunity to build what you call a ‘health zone’ because one of the other things that must be done is the construction of a research lab. So, we’re not only going to do a hospital, but research must be a fundamental part of our health delivery,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Dr. Drew said the intention is to commence work on the new hospital at least by the mid-term of the Government’s first five years in office.