By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Koror – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the Palauan government have formed a partnership to initiate a $2.37 million feasibility study to determine the ideal site for a new Belau National Hospital.
“The relocation and upgrade of the Belau National Hospital will considerably enhance our healthcare capabilities and ensure that our facilities are prepared to handle the increasing climate change challenges we face,” President Surangel Whipps Jr. said Wednesday following the signing of a grant agreement between Palau and the U.S. Embassy in Koror.
Palau’s only hospital, built in 1993 through U.S. Department of Interior funding, is currently situated in an area in Koror that is vulnerable to storm tides.
According to the Office of the President, there have been at least occasions when patients had to be evacuated to higher ground during storms.
The hospital is facing deterioration due to damage caused by flooding and other impacts of climate change.
USTDA said the study will provide the Palau Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industry with evaluations of potential new locations for a new hospital and identify its needs.
“To meet Palau’s current and future healthcare needs, the project will reduce reliance on medical support outside the country, improve access to high-quality medical care, and strengthen resilience to climate change,” USTDA said.
Besides its problematic location, the Palau hospital has limited capacity, which impedes its delivery of care to Palauans, hence the need for expansion.
“To meet Palau’s current and future healthcare needs, the project will reduce reliance on medical support outside the country, improve access to high-quality medical care, and strengthen resilience to climate change,” states a press release from USTDA.
Charles Obichang, Palau’s minister of public infrastructure and industry, and Joel Ehrendreich, U.S. ambassador to Palau, signed the grant award on Oct. 23 at the president’s office in Koror.
Officials said the feasibility study will help determine a new location that ensures patient safety while addressing existing vulnerabilities.
“This collaboration reflects the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Palau,” Ehrendreich said.
“Together, we are advancing healthcare and strengthening resilience, creating a future of opportunity and sustainability for the people of Palau and the broader Pacific region,” he added.
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“Island nations like Palau are prioritizing the development of high-quality infrastructure to become more self-sufficient and address the impacts of climate change. This focus extends to healthcare infrastructure,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s director.
“USTDA’s partnership with Palau will help relocate and transform Belau National Hospital to meet the needs of Palau’s citizens. Our partnership will further USTDA’s goal of bringing U.S. private sector solutions to advance the priorities of Pacific island nations," he added.
Whipps said the hospital recently made improvements, including digitizing medical records and getting new equipment such as an MRI machine. It is expected to award new contracts soon to upgrade and renovate the facility.
However, Whipps said the nearly three-decade-old building needs to be replaced.
“The relocation and upgrade of the Belau National Hospital will considerably enhance our healthcare capabilities and ensure that our facilities are prepared to handle the increasing environmental challenges we face,” Whipps said.
“As we also look to expand services for veterans, the new hospital can also be outfitted to provide healthcare services specifically for the needs of those who have sacrificed to defend freedom and democracy in the U.S. military,” the president added.
The US agency said the study supports multiple U.S. government initiatives and policy priorities such as the administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, the U.S.-Pacific Partnership, and the Pacific Islands Infrastructure Initiative.”
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