The U.S. government will invest over $600 million in the expansion plan for military healthcare on Guam.
“As the buildup begins to occur in the coming years and the Marine Corps transitions from Okinawa to Guam, there’s going to be considerable growth among the medical military to Guam,” Miller said during a presentation before the Rotary Club of Northern Guam at the Hyatt Regency Guam.
Miller disclosed that a new outreach clinic will be built on Naval Base Guam to accommodate the expected troop influx. There are also plans to build an outreach clinic at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station in South Finegayan, Dededo for the new Marine Corps Base.
The cost for the Naval Base clinic is $96 million and the northern clinic is $110 million.
He also cited some changes that are already taking place at the compound located along the Agana Heights cliffline such as the central utility plant, which costs around $30 million to build and should be completed by February 2011.
Then there’s the main area of the Navy Hospital itself. The construction is estimated at $440 million and the contract is expected to be awarded this October and completed by November 2014. The new hospital will be built in Agana Hospital next to the current facility. Once complete, the current hospital will be leveled and converted into a parking lot.
Citing figures from the Joint Guam Program Office, Miller said active duty personnel on Guam will increase from 6,420 to 18,930, while the number of dependents will go up from 7,690 to 19,140.
Along with the 8,000 Marines from Okinawa, Miller said additional troops to be deployed to Guam are those from Army, Air Force, and Navy as well as the U.S. Coast Guard.
Rotarian and former Sen. Larry Kasperbauer was surprised to hear that more troops are coming than initially expected. “So really we’re just hearing a small part of that story,” he said.
Rotarian Hermie Queja asked Miller what would happen to the existing equipment currently being used by the hospital once the new facility is up and running.
Miller responded that they will be donated to the civilian community. “What’s required is we get special authority to do that. I have every indication that we’re going to receive that authority so that equipment is usable, functional, and can be redistributed here on Guam or in Micronesia or where ever it may be needed,” he said.
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