Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (formerly the Old Belize City Hospital) is the main public hospital in

Belize City Belize City is the largest city in Belize and was once the capital of the former British Honduras. According to the 2010 census, Belize City has a population of 57,169 people in 16,162 households. It is at the mouth of the Haulover Creek, wh ...

Belize Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...

. It functions as both the national referral hospital, and the district hospital for Belize District. It is located on Princess Margaret Drive, next to the offices of the Belize Social Security Board. It is publicly owned and operated, and is the main hospital in the area. As the hospital notes: "The KHMH has a capacity of 134 beds, and boast three surgical suits as well as two labor and delivery suits. A 24/7 stat lab, weekend pharmacy services, and range of over 25 specialists make the KHMH the place where, increasingly, more and more Belizeans turn to for emergency and medical care. Specialist clinics are held weekdays; additionally, private services are offered, allowing KHMH patients more options even within the parameter of being a public institution." Within the city there are seven other public hospitals, including three regional hospitals.

History

The original Old Belize City Hospital was established in 1820.

Antoni Gościński Antoni Gościński OBE (born 4 January 1909 Poznań; died 12 December 1986 Belize) was a Polish medic. During the World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from ...

worked as a surgeon at the hospital from 1949. The new Belize City Hospital opened its doors on 18 September 1995 and was renamed after Dr. Karl Heusner as a tribute to his lengthy career in medicine and his dedication to the people of Belize, serving the people for 63 years from his clinic. Its total construction costs were roughly BZ$45 million. Facilities on its grounds include the Bliss School of Nursing, the Central Medical Lab, and the Government Eye Clinic. A scandal arose surrounding KHMH in 2009 when questionable procurement practises regarding pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies came to light, and the government set up a commission of inquiry to investigate. Chairman Ricardo Fabro resigned in the aftermath. In May 2011, Corozal Town businessman Gulab Sharma was named the new chairman. In June 2011, construction work began on its children's intensive care unit. In October 2011, a medical mission from the United States arrived at the hospital to provide specialized treatment, such as

cardiac catheterization Cardiac catheterization (heart cath) is the insertion of a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart. This is done both for diagnostic and interventional purposes. A common example of cardiac catheterization is coronary catheterization that ...

and podiatry consultations.

References

External links

Karl Heusner BiographyBiographic Notes on Dr. Karl Heusner, patron of the "Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital" (KHMH).Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital websiteBelize Guide

Capital Newspost Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

, September 3, 2014 {{Belize City Hospital buildings completed in 1995 1995 establishments in Belize Buildings and structures in Belize City Hospitals established in 1995 Hospitals in Belize Hospitals established in 1820