The new Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun is on track for opening in 2010 despite a hike in construction costs, says its CEO Liak Teng Lit.
Commenting on the progress, Mr Liak said the structure of the hospital will be completed by the middle of 2009.
Mr Liak said, “The lift shaft has reached level 3, basement is almost completed. So part of the hospital is now at level 1. From now on, every 3 weeks or so we will move up 1 floor. The building completion will be between March to June. Then we have about a year to commission the hospital. You know you have to put the wires, the lights, and everything else.”
However, due to rising costs of construction materials, the budget for the hospital has gone up by some 40 per cent.
While this has caused some delays, Mr Liak said the hospital will open on schedule.
“I’m sure all of you know about the steel price, aluminium price, all gone up by 2, 3 hundred percent. All the building materials are imported, so it’s really not within our control, not within Singapore’s control. It’s really a worldwide phenomenon. But no problem, we will still get the hospital done on time,” said Mr Liak.
On the hospital’s manpower, he said there are already 1,700 people on board, mainly staff from Alexandra Hospital.
Mr Liak hopes to increase this number to about 2,100.
The Khoo Teck Puat Hospital is part of the Alexandra Health group, which currently oversees Alexandra Hospital and the Jurong Medical Centre.
Source : Channel NewsAsia – 19 Sep 2008