WILLEMSTAD.- There is a delay in the delivery of the building of the new Hospital in Otrobanda (HNO) or better called Curaçao Medical Center (CMC). Since the beginning of April the entire building had to be delivered, but this did not happen because certain tests are not ready yet; this was what mr. Gilbert Martina, Director of HNO “Transition and Exploitation” N.V. confirmed to EXTRA.
Mr. Martina indicated that there is a delay due to the fact that Ballast Nedam, the company that built the Hospital, did not perform the corresponding tests that had to be done at the time. It involves electrical, mechanical and hydroelectric tests.
These tests must be done by different local companies under the supervision of a Dutch company, responsible for quality control of the construction. This company obviously does the control as long as the result is in accordance with the construction specification.
Martina indicated that they will have a tentative date for the delivery of the Building, but that it will not be disclosed, due to an agreement with Ballast Nedam.
Based on the plan the delivery of the Building should have happened during the months of March and April, it was necessary to begin to make the corresponding simulation, but there is a delay in it. They have to receive the building completely available to start.
Regarding the inventory that must go into the new building, Martina indicated that this is planned to happen during the months of June and July. All inventory will be installed, including the medical inventory as well. The real focus is for the new Hospital to be operational by the end of this year and everything possible will be done to make it a reality.
Finally, Mr. Martina said that there is still a part of SEHOS to be demolished in order to build the road that goes adjacent to the roundabout located behind the new Hospital. Likewise, the existing Curoil Gasoline Station in Colón must be removed.
In December, EXTRA held talks with Mr. Martina and he said that the plan with Ballast Nedam was for mid-December to start getting some Departments. They would receive first the wing called “Blue”, where the pressure tanks are located, the D wing wing in which the dialysis chairs are located, the Atrium where the reception will be, and also the H3 Department, which will be the Children’s Department, Intensive Care, Emergency and Kitchen.
In mid-February two other wings, B and C will be ready, which has the Operations room and the first part where the ambulances enter in addition to the Radiology section.
On April 2, 2019, Ballast Nedam indicated that they would deliver HNO and technically everything would work. However, as indicated at the beginning of this article, certain tests have not yet been carried out so that the formal delivery of the Building can be made.
