A delegation visited with the commissioning team and Prime Minister Chastanet for information on the hospital's completion.

A delegation from the European Union recently visited the Owen King EU Hospital for a status update on the hospital and its eventual opening.

The EU officials were received by the commissioning team for the new hospital, senior managers of the Victoria Hospital, and staff of the National Authorizing Office (NAO) attached to the Ministry of Economic Development. The NAO acts as a bridge to facilitate dialog between the Government of Saint Lucia and the European Union, and to ensure all engagements and transactions follow EU rules and regulations.

"This project has been one of the most substantial projects that the European Union has ever done in this part of the world and we're very happy with the progress of it," Deputy National Authorizing Officer, Aviva St. Clair said. "We're drawing to the close at this point, and we are conducting the final activities to ensure that the building is fully equipped. We stand ready to support the Ministry of Health in the process of commissioning the hospital and making it available to patients."

The EU delegation previously met with Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet on Oct. 12. He outlined the government's vision for healthcare in Saint Lucia.

Henriette Geiger, the European Union's Head of Development Coordination for Latin America and the Caribbean related that the Prime Minister is focused on finding a sustainable solution for healthcare.

"The hospital in only one part of it. We were looking at health insurance possibilities for all Saint Lucians and for us at the European Union, it is key to find a sustainable operating modality for the hospital because a lot of the investment of the European taxpayer has been invested here.

"I have to say that the hospital I see today is the nicest hospital I have ever seen, so from a design, technical, and infrastructural point of view, I have to say it is a first rate facility. What we want to do is bring it into operation as soon as possible so that all of Saint Lucia can benefit from this facility."

Geiger added that while the EU is eager to hand over the facility as early as possible, it is also cognizant of the high cost of running and maintaining the facility, and is prepared to stand by the Government of Saint Lucia to bring this project to completion.