RSG Bans Overseas Medical Treatment

The Rivers State Government says it is in a hurry to put an end to overseas referrals of patients who are seeking medical treatment.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, stated this while speaking during a facility tour of the construction site of the Justice Karibi Whyte Special Hospital at the Greater Port Harcourt.

The commissioner disclosed that the Governor Chibuike Amaechi led-administration was poised to turn Rivers State into a centre of medical tourism in sub-Saharan Africa which is what informed government’s decision to rebuild the health system starting with the construction of 160 primary health centres across the state.

He disclosed that the early completion of the Karibi Whyte Special Hospital would put an end to overseas referrals thereby saving money for the government.

Responding, the Project Manager of the construction firm, Clinotech Canada, Mr Teoman Bayar disclosed that the hospital would be completed by December, 2010.

Mr Teoman Baydar, disclosed that the initial delay was occasioned by the mobilization of personnel and equipment to site.

The company has commenced the construction of the basement floor which will cover 224,000 square metres of concrete.

Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Health in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Irene Inimgba, expressed delight with the pace of work at the site.

It would be recalled that the state government went into public private partnership agreement with a Canadian firm, Clinotech Canada to build a 1,000 bed mega specialist hospital in Port Harcourt.