Costa Rican president lashes out at Cartago hospital project

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves lashed out at the project to build a new hospital for Cartago province.

“We recognize the importance and urgency of a new hospital for Cartago, but not at the expense of risking the health and physical integrity of the inhabitants,” local daily El Mundo reported him as saying at a cabinet meeting.

Several projects have been suspended due to the financial difficulties of social security agency (CCSS), which oversees the construction of hospitals. 

Despite the support that medical personnel have shown for the Cartago project, Chaves argues that the company that was awarded the contract is not registered at the college of engineers and architects and has representatives who are behind on debt payments.  

“These people… are happy to invest 180 billion colones (US$340 million) to build the project on land where a disaster can occur, including explosion of chemicals, landslides, floods, that could put the life of patients, medical staff and visitors at risk,” the daily quoted Chaves as saying.