President Jagdeo addressing the commissioning ceremony.

He made the announcement in brief remarks at the commissioning of an US$8 million In-Patient Facility at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Jagdeo added that the State would be also involved in the project as part of efforts to offer cheap health care compared to other countries.

The outgoing president said construction of the new health care facility would begin during the first quarter of 2012.  “This hospital  ill offer services locally equal to that of developed countries however with a small fraction of the cost since the hospital will be managed in collaboration with an external body for minimal service fees,” he said.

Jagdeo’s unveiling of the plaque and cutting of the ribbon for the 202-bed facility is one in a series of similar activities he has been engaged in quick succession in recent weeks.

GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Khan told the ceremony that the facility would effectively bring an end to two persons having to use one bed as had been the situation in the now abandoned and demolished colonial wooden structure. “The problem of bed-sharing would no longer exist,” he said.

The new wing includes male and female medical and surgical wards, individual oxygen vacuum and compressed air outlet and a physiotherapy department on the lower floor.

In addition to an intercom system that patients could use to summon medical staff, there are eight isolation rooms for persons suffering from communicable diseases and four quiet rooms for grieving relatives and persons who would like to pray.

The GPHC, Khan said, was in the process of building a website that would be located at www.georgetownpublichospital.gy.com