$78.2 million is the estimated cost for the full operationalisation of the Couva Children’s Hospital.
Speaking at the “Gift of Life Christmas concert” on Sunday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC lamented a reported loss of $100 million suffered as a result of disuse over the past ten years, and expressed dismay at the waste of public funds.
She said the worth of a nation is measured by the way the most vulnerable are treated, and as such, she reiterated that the nation’s children deserve more.
With the aim being full operationalisation, the Prime Minister said that, for now, the Couva Children’s Hospital’s opening will take a structured, phased approach which will ensure that each department becomes operational only after all staffing, equipment, and support services are fully in place.
She said the aim is to actively reduce the 11,300-person waiting list. She noted that as of December 5th, 86 surgeries were completed.
“This hospital is now part of our national solution with respect to health care. On December 1st, 2025, the first pediatric specialist clinic was held right here. Since then, children have received care in pediatric neurology, rheumatology, neonatal care, and endocrinology, and pediatric cardiology. Big words, big things, but in the end of it, at the end of the day, our children have been receiving pediatric care right here in this children’s hospital.”
The Prime Minister noted that the $78.2 million price tag quoted by project managers UDeCOTT is an approximate figure.
“Now, this is the initial estimate from UDeCOTT, this $78 million, to deal with bringing back all, fixing equipment, bringing others. But it doesn’t end there. We have plans to take it forward for other arrangements to be made here for greater, greater, greater healthcare service.”
Minister of Health Dr. Lackram Bodoe further explained what is earmarked for the hospital.
“Of course there remains to be done some more work in terms of refurbishing and so on. But the services that are going to be implemented will be secondary and tertiary services. The Prime Minister mentioned a bigger delay, a big backlog of cataract surgery, ophthalmic surgery, so we’re going to work on that, neurology, there are some other areas also.”
The Prime Minister was adamant about the deadline for full completion and operationalisation.
“We have come this far in just the space of a few short months so we’ll do it as fast as we can, as best as we can. And in the haste, we must make sure it is done properly. It’s a hospital. It’s not a bus shed.”
The “Gift of Life Christmas concert” and re-dedication of the Couva Children’s Hospital took place on Sunday.