In an interview yesterday, DPW Secretary Diego B. Songsong said with the help of the Department of Public Health and the Rota Health Center, they have identified the medical equipment that meets federal standards.
The $1.5 million Rota Hemodialysis Center is almost complete but DPW has to work closely with Public Health to make they are installing the right equipment.
The operation of the new hemodialysis center adjacent to the Commonwealth Health Center was delayed due to federal compliance issues involving some of its equipment.
Songsong said they don’t want the same thing to happen on Rota.
Once DPW comes out with the cost estimate for the federally compliant equipment, Public Health must concur before they can start the procurement.
Songsong said they will also have to work with the Rota legislative delegation for the funding.
The CNMI government will have to tap local funds to purchase the equipment, he added.
The Rota delegation can reprogram existing federal capital improvement project funds for the purchase of the equipment, Songsong said.
The original plan was to let a private entity run the facility so that the investor can take care of the equipment.
A request for proposal has already been drafted, but the Rota legislative delegation later changed the plan.
The delegation now wants the CNMI government to procure the equipment.
