17 - 23 February 2000

Contract for new hospital to be signed soon

by Franco Aloisio

An agreement on the design and construction of the new hospital in Tal-Qroqq has been reached following negotiations between the Foundation for Medical Services (FMS) and Skanska Co. Ltd.

It is expected that the agreement, which will be signed in the coming days, will be a final one and will cover all work which will take place on site until the new hospital is opened in 2003.

Health Minister Louis Deguara and FMS officials yesterday unveiled what was dubbed

as a "final model" of the new hospital.

For these last five years, the design and building of the new hospital was marked by several changes in concept and interruptions in the construction works.

"This will be the final design. Work must be stepped up in order for the hospital to be opened in three years' time," Dr Deguara said.

"This new hospital is the largest health-related project in Europe at present," he added.

The new hospital will be an acute and general hospital, which will include a training and research centre.

The hospital will be one kilometre long and will cover an area of 300,000 square metres. It will house 650 beds, with the possibility of another 200 beds.

All emergency and rehabilitation services will be offered, together with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, podiatry, social work and psychology.

The hospital will also have a 2,000 vehicle underground carpark. The Medical School, Healthcare Institute and other institutions responsible for training in the health sector will be housed under the same roof in the hospital complex.

The patients wards will be well lit, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and managed professionally.

Dr Deguara said the new hospital is just part of the government's plans for healthcare. He said a wider programme of reforms is needed, especially in the primary health sector.