New Belize City Hospital Approved as Government Advances Healthcare Projects

As many Belizeans protest the land acquisition for the new Belmopan Hospital, and as government prepares to construct a tertiary care medical facility in San Pedro, the construction of a new Belize City Hospital is in the pipeline.  Earlier in the month, Cabinet gave its approval to have a brand new hospital constructed for the old capital.  On August 8, Minister of Health, Kevin Bernard, indicated that construction would begin shortly on Chetumal Street.  During yesterday’s inauguration of the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, CEO Chandra Cansino, explained that prior to Cabinet’s approval there was a study done by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).

Chandra Nisbet Cansino, CEO, KHMHA: “Well, a study was done by Cabei in regards to that and  the recommendations were they gave both options to renovate and to rebuild. The actual rebuilding was more efficient and more cost efficient than renovating because whatever structure is built would have to be resilient to a category five hurricane and to bring a structure like this up to a standard like that it would be very expensive. But if you will build a structure from the beginning with that plan already in mind, then it would make more sense to build a new building and to renovate Karl Heusner.”

Reporter: Do you find that the location would be maybe more accessible in any way? 

Chandra Nisbet Cansino, CEO, KHMHA: “I think it’s pretty central. Because we live in a small country, we are very much tied to location. But in any, Chetumal Street is what like five minutes away from here. So I don’t think it would impact the accessibility by Belize City or the country.”

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital was constructed in September 1995.  Before the KHMH, there was the Old Belize City Hospital that was located on Eve Street.