£750,000 a month for empty hospital

THE HOUSE Watchdog Committee yesterday heard the non-operation of the new Nicosia general hospital was draining state coffers of £25,000 daily.

The expense, which has been estimated based on the hospital’s daily output and other running costs, horrified committee members who called the project the Republic’s greatest scandal.

Nevertheless the Committee was given assurances the move to the new hospital would go ahead in March. The plan is the move from the old hospital to its new premises will take place over 10 days at the end of which the new facility will be up and fully operational.

The deputies heard the hospital had cost the state £90 million so far: £62 million for the building contractor, £8 million for other works and £20 million on equipment. The deputies were told the contractor was demanding a further £110 million.

During the meeting Committee chairman Antonis Karas made reference to possible responsible parties for the scandalous handling of the project. Karas said a report prepared by an investigative committee into the matter, which was now in the Attorney-general’s hands, could very well finger those responsible and urged they be prosecuted.

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