Comptroller General green lights new Puntarenas hospital

The Comptroller General of Costa Rica has approved an $83 million contract to construct a new hospital in Puntarenas.

The Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS), or Caja, contracted Van Der Laat & Jiménez-Ingelectra SA for the design, implementation, construction and maintenance of the health facilities. The Comptroller General’s ruling confirmed the decision and resolved a dispute with a different construction company.

“Puntarenas will have its new hospital,” wrote Costa Rica’s President, Carlos Alvarado. “It will be the biggest in the country since the construction of Hospital México.

“This long-awaited project is an excellent news for people’s health, but also for the zone’s economy by directly and indirectly creating jobs.”

Puntarenas tendrá su nuevo hospital. Será el más grande en el país desde la construcción del Hospital México.

Esta obra tan esperada es una excelente noticia para la salud de las personas pero también para la economía de la zona al generar empleos directos e indirectos.

— Carlos Alvarado Quesada (@CarlosAlvQ) August 30, 2019

Puntarenas has been in dire need of a new hospital since a 2012 earthquake damaged the current Hospital Monseñor Sanabria building.

At the time, Caja experts concluded that only three floors of the hospital were safe enough to remain operational and recommended the demolition of seven floors. In addition, they reinforced the remaining structure.

While the Comptroller General’s approval is a significant step forward, Casa Presidencial has said the new hospital won’t open until 2021 and won’t be entirely complete until 2030.

When fully operational, the new Hospital Monseñor Sanabria is expected to feature interventional cardiology and chemotherapy equipment to provide advanced care for patients without requiring a trip to Hospital México in San José.