Governor Lou Leon Guerrero plans for a medical center of excellence is on track to becoming a reality after signing Bill 121 into law this afternoon.


Today, she was flanked by her directors from the Guam Memorial Hospital, Department of Public Health and Social Services and Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center.



"This is truly a joyous and victorious and historical day,"Hospital Administrator Lillian Posadas said. 

The legislation authorizes funding for an estimated $1 billion dollar medical complex that includes building a new hospital, and facilities for Public Health and the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center.


"The millions to be invested is a sound investment its an investment in our future and of our future," Public Health Director Art San Agustin said. 


"Our people need to be in the same area so that their lives, transportation is easier to get the full health care coverage that they deserve," Therese Arriola, director of GBHWC said. 

The governor said the building of a new hospital has been a vision of her administration. It also follows an assessment by the Army Corps of Engineers that found that the current infrastructure at GMH is in an overall state of failure. According to the assessment, it would cost about $761 million to make repairs to GMH whereas building a new hospital would cost roughly $743 million.



"I think it's a right decision that was made and I'm certainly excited that we will also be able to have public health there," she said. "We will also be able to build the state of the art laboratory that public health needs our people need as so evident by this pandemic."

The governor has pledged $300 million out of the $600 million Guam received in American Rescue Plan money for the hospital. The financing is being handled by the Guam Economic Development Authority which is proposing a leaseback arrangement with a private developer for the project. The law pledges $35 million every year to cover the debt service."