The Belizean government has initiated decisive action to confront the nation’s escalating healthcare challenges by advancing plans for two new regional hospitals. This development comes as aging medical facilities in northern and southern regions struggle with severe overcrowding and outdated infrastructure.
Health Minister Kevin Bernard, alongside Toledo area representatives Oscar Requena and Osmond Martinez, recently convened with consulting experts commissioned to conduct comprehensive feasibility studies. The proposed locations for these critical healthcare facilities are Punta Gorda Town in the Toledo District and Orange Walk in the north.
According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, these studies will evaluate whether constructing entirely new medical centers represents a more viable solution than continuing to invest resources in hospitals that have operated for over four decades. Deputy Director of Hospital Services Lizette Bell emphasized that both regions have reached a critical juncture, with existing facilities no longer meeting contemporary healthcare demands.
The Punta Gorda Hospital, operational for approximately fifty-five years, has significantly exceeded its original capacity and functional requirements. A particularly concerning issue is its geographical isolation—the facility lies nearly two hours from the nearest advanced care center at Southern Regional Hospital in Stann Creek, and currently lacks surgical capabilities.
Similarly, the Northern Regional Hospital in Orange Walk, serving both Orange Walk and Corozal Districts, faces parallel challenges after forty-four years of service. The maternity ward frequently operates beyond 100% capacity, forcing staff to accommodate patients in surgical units. Emergency and trauma care facilities remain critically undersized for the growing population they serve.
This healthcare infrastructure expansion represents the government’s most substantial response to long-standing systemic pressures, signaling a potential transformation in Belize’s medical service delivery framework.