The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), a country in the Caribbean, is set to begin construction of the Acute Referral Hospital at Arnos Vale.  

This development signifies a major step in the modernisation of the nation's healthcare infrastructure.  

An agreement relating to the construction of the new healthcare facility was signed between SVG Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and the Taiwanese company OECC on 26 July.  

OECC will take over the hospital site from 31 July 2024. 

At the signing event at Cabinet Room, SVG Health Minister St Clair Prince highlighted that there are several limitations of the existing Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and the need for a new facility to meet the evolving healthcare demands. 

The project is expected to enhance the government's capacity to respond to public health emergencies and build resilience in the healthcare system. 

Prince said: “It is vital that this new hospital is being constructed, one which will respond to the challenges and the needs of the changing times.” 

Acute Referral Hospital will be built on the northern side of the runway on the old ET Joshua Tarmac.  

It will offer a range of expanded health services, including cardiology, neurology with enhanced acute stroke care, management of chronic non-communicable diseases, thyroid services, improved ophthalmology services, as well as major invasive surgeries. 

The new hospital project is slated for completion within 32 months.  

Upon the opening of the Acute Care Hospital, the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital will be repurposed as a Maternal Child and Health Centre of Excellence. 

Constructing and equipping the new hospital is estimated to cost approximately $110m. 

The project was initially valued at $50m and was later increased to $82m, after SVG Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves met with the World and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials in 2022.