Located within Summit Hills, Imoke disclosed it is the realization of the state’s dream to provide first-class, world standard health care to Cross Riverians right across the state in partnership with UCL Health Care Services to achieve its drive, passion and commitment to the facility.
According to Imoke, “We are acutely aware of the immense importance of this project, which will not only transform the medical landscaped of the state but will also ultimately enlarge the profile of healthcare delivery in the region and country at large. The ultimate aim is to make Calabar synonymous with the best quality healthcare available in the country, on par with anything which can be attained in any other part of the world at a substantially reduced cost.”
The governor explained that the health care sector in the country has been much maligned over the years and is plagued with series of challenges related to professional competencies in infrastructural, operational and managerial capacities.
He stated that as an additional implication to the dearth of health Care services, there is a vast increase in the importation of health care services not only in Europe, but surprising also from countries such as India, The UAE, South Africa and Egypt, adding that the problem is further compounded by the fact that even those who can afford to pay for healthcare cannot get the value for money that they desire.
Imoke said, “Upon completion, the Calabar Specialist Hospital will offer a comprehensive package of secondary, gynecology, obstetrics, paediatrics, internal medicine, General surgery, orthopedics laboratory services, basic neology and basic cardiology, with plans to extend to oncology in the near future.
“In addition to resident specialization, the hospital is expected to offer health care through specialist missions in dermatology, urology, and eye surgery as well as advanced dental surgery. There will also be gatekeeper clinic offering primary health care services and also to serve as a referral mechanism for the specialist hospital.”
The cost of the hospital is N6.4 billion with the state government’s capital contribution set at N3.2 billion while the balance of the financial requirement will be sourced by the concessionaire, UCL HealthCare Services Limited, as its equity contribution to project in true spirit of Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Mr. Mark Bush, CEO Cure Hospital Management Service on behalf of the concessionaire, thanked the state government for giving them the opportunity in partnering to execute the project which the described as the best quality hospital in the region.
Bush assured that very soon, a lot of physical changes would take place within the site while the hospital will develop and provide the best medical procedure through PPP to realize the vision of the state government, emphasizing that it will be completed and commissioned on scheduled.
Mr. Nzan Ogbe, Special Adviser Governor’s Office, disclosed that the ground breaking marked the culmination of over three years of work which began with Imoke’s vision of providing improved health care delivery not just to Cross Riverians, but also neighbouring states.
Ogbe explained that the procurement process took a total of 15 months and involved detailed studies on health care parameters in sub-Sahara Africa, developing a suitable transaction structure and PPP Agreement that addressed concerns in having a completed concessionaire and ensuring that the hospital is built and operational in the possible standard.
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