Efforts stepped up to complete new hospital

CONSTRUCTION of the new Nicosia general hospital, which has been plagued by delays and problems, will be finished by the end of this year or the beginning of 2006, Communications and Works Minister Haris Thrasou said yesterday.

Thrasou visited the site of the new hospital yesterday along with Health Minister Andreas Gavrielides. Work has been stepped up since a recent visit to the island of officials from the European Investment Bank, which is paying for half the cost.

“Over the past two weeks, there have been several meetings that solved to a large degree the delays that were happening,” said Thrasou, adding that yesterday’s visit was designed to discuss further planning to meet deadlines.

Such meetings would be held every fortnight, he added.

“The current deliberations have given a substantial new start to accelerating the work at all levels, from the construction of the remaining buildings and the installation of medical equipment,” said Gavrielides.
He added that efforts were going on to make up for the delays, that President Papadopoulos once referred as one of the greatest scandals in the history of the state.

Construction of the hospital started in 1997 and was initially expected to be complete by mid 2003 at a cost of £67 million, but the cost has skyrocketed to £100 million. A succession of delays, resignations, endless modifications and additions has painted a bleak picture of mismanagement of state funds.

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