The Ministry of the Interior began the pre-investment phase to build the General Hospital of the National Civil Police (PNC), a work that was planned six years ago to expand medical care to agents, administrative personnel and their families.
The budget for the work was approved until 2025 and according to the Minister of the Interior, Marco Antonio Villeda, the bidding rules are in Guatecompras to contract the studies prior to the construction of the care center.
He added that the pre-investment phase will cost approximately Q6 million and is expected to conclude in six months. In total, the healthcare center will cost Q32 million and additional expenses will have to be incurred to equip it.
According to the technical specifications, the hospital will be built in Los Cipresales, zone 6 of Guatemala City and will have the capacity for 150 beds.
In addition, it will have an outpatient consultation, emergency, bed rest, intensive care for adults and neonates, six operating rooms, clinical laboratory, blood bank, pharmacy, morgue and administrative areas.
It will also include specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, traumatology, pediatrics, gynecology, cardiology, dentistry, physiotherapy, nutrition, psychology and psychiatry.
Villeda indicated that the project will not be intended only for members of the police institution.
“This is a hospital that aims to provide service not only to police officers, but also to their families,” he highlighted.
The official added that the construction is part of the actions promoted by the portfolio to improve the service conditions of the agents.
“It is part of this entire dignification process that we are carrying out to improve the conditions in which police officers provide their services, apart from the improvements in police stations and the police welfare bonus, which replaced the closure of the canteens,” he added.
According to the project documents, during the pre-investment phase, architectural, geological, geotechnical and structural studies must be developed, in addition to the risk management analyzes required for a work considered essential.
Villeda said that after six months, they plan to start the work, which they hope to conclude before the end of Bernado Arévalo’s government.
“I do not have specific information on how long the construction of the hospital can take. I would hope that before the end of this government period, we can inaugurate it or, at least, leave the work sufficiently advanced for the next government to proceed with its inauguration,” said Villeda.