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October 26, 2007
Governor authorizes OMB to release monies to Virgin Islands hospital facilities In an effort to increase the quality and availability of medical care to residents in the Territory, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. Friday authorized the release of $3 million toward providing upgrades and other construction to hospital facilities, including $2.5 million towards enhancements at the Governor Juan F. Louis Hospital Cardiac Center and $500,000 to the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital for the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute. "As we continue to make improvements to patient care in the Territory, including new technologies, more doctors, and better facilities, we are able to offer residents of the Virgin Islands and persons from throughout the Caribbean, and globally, the opportunity for the best in medical care. With this authorization of funds, we take one step closer to being able to provide first class facilities for all those in need of these specialized care services," deJongh said. "In particular, I am pleased to authorize funding towards further establishing the Cardiac Center as one of the premier facilities in the world," deJongh continued. The 2006 legislative appropriation, Act No. 6793, allocates $4 million to the two hospitals, $500,000 of which was previously released by OMB to Roy Lester Schneider Hospital for the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute. To date, OMB has been authorized to release the full appropriation of $1 million to Roy Lester Schneider Hospital, and the Juan F. Louis Hospital has received all but $500,000 of its appropriation. "With this release of monies, we are able to bring much-needed services to patients requiring specific medical care treatments. I remain fully committed to releasing the remaining $500,000, as appropriated, to the Cardiac Center and look forward to the grand opening of the facility next year," deJongh said. The Virgin Islands Cardiac Center, a $24 million facility slated to open next year broke ground on June 2006 and is scheduled to be completed by March 2008. The new facility will provide services specializing in cardiac care inclusive of health promotion and prevention, primary care and intervention, as well as rehabilitation from cardiovascular disease. |
