Oct. 26, 2007 — The governor authorized the released of $3 million Friday for upgrades and construction at the territory's two hospitals.
The funding includes $2.5 million toward enhancements at the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital Cardiac Center and $500,000 to the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital for the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute, according to a Government House news release.
"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," deJongh said. "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. In particular, I am pleased to authorize funding towards further establishing the cardiac center as one of the premier facilities in the world."
The 2006 legislative appropriation, Act No. 6793, allocates $4 million to the two hospitals, $500,000 of which was previously released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to Schneider Hospital for the cancer institute. To date, OMB has been authorized to release the full appropriation of $1 million to Schneider, and Luis 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," deJongh said. "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."
Ground was broken for the V.I. Cardiac Center, a $24 million facility, in June 2006. It is scheduled to be completed by March 2008. The new facility will provide services specializing in cardiac care, including health promotion and prevention, primary care and intervention, and rehabilitation from cardiovascular disease.
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