Health infrastructure upgrade committee terminated without main projects achieved

The Macau SAR government announced today (Monday) that it has terminated the Health System Infrastructure Network Follow-up Committee, without its main projects – the Islands District Medical Complex public hospital in Cotai and the Conde S. Januario Hospital expansion – being completed.

The committee was created in 2011 by the Chui Sai On administration to coordinate a ten-year plan health system infrastructure improvement project involving a MOP10 billion (US$1.2 billion) in public investment and aimed at meeting the ever-increasing demand for healthcare in the city.

Chaired by the Chief Executive, the committee also included the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Director and two sub-directors of Health Bureau, the Director of Land Services, Public Works and Transport, and the Coordinator of the Infrastructure Development Office.

The 10-year development plan was mainly focused on improving local medical facilities through in three ways: through the expansion and reconstruction works; by building the Islands Health Care Complex, and via the primary health care network.

In 2011 landfill and foundation work for the Islands Health Care Complex had already started and were in the design phase of the plants, with authorities estimating at the time that construction expected to start in 2013, with the first phase of the project to be completed before the year 2015 and the completion of the other works scheduled for 2020.

However, after several delays and design plan changes, as of now the only building included in the complex that has been completed for use is the Kiang Wu Nursing Institute.

The Legislative Assembly (AL) Follow-up Committee on Public Works stated last year that the hospital’s main buildings are expected to finish construction in August, 2022, namely, the General Hospital Building, the Logistic Support Building, garbage collection center, the Administration and Multi-Service Building, and main public lanes.

Construction for these main facilities started in October, 2019, with a MOP7.3 billion contract granted to a joint bid by China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited / Companhia de Engenharia e de Construção da China (Macau), Limitada / Yau Lee Construction Company Limited.

In total, the complete hospital construction works are expected to cost more than MOP10 billion, and it is estimated to start operations in 2023 or 2024.

Meanwhile, another main project included in the Health System Infrastructure Network Follow-up Committee, the expansion of the Conde S. Januario Hospital has only completed its main foundation works, with the first phase of its main structure construction expected to start in the first quarter of next year.