The Standing Finance Committee meeting has entered its third day and currently government and opposition MPS are deliberating over the Ministry of Health’s $7 billion budget.
Among the issues discussed was the operationalisation of the Central Bloc of Port of Spain General Hospital, which was unveiled in a “practical opening” by the Rowley administration.
Health Minister, Dr Lackram Bodoe said the project has not been handed over to the Ministry of Health or the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA).
“It is still under construction at this time,” said Dr Bodoe.
The Health Minister also faced a question from Opposition MP Colm Imbert over a $100 million allocation for the Couva hospital.
“A lot is required to have that hospital, you would recall Members, under your watch, to have that fully operationalized,” Dr Bodoe said.
Among the work required were new medical equipment, replacement of the x-ray anode tube for the 64-slide CT scanner, parts replacement for an MRI machine, replacing incubators and radiant warmers, replacing non-functional anesthesia machines, and replacing CT and MRI injector systems.
