D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams said Wednesday he “wholeheartedly” supports the recommendation of his health care task force to do away with the proposed National Capital Medical Center, yet he refused to declare the $400 million hospital project dead.
Speaking during his weekly news briefing, Williams said he embraces the task force’s suggestion that the city spend $212 million in tobacco settlement money to construct two ambulatory care centers, one “HealthPlex” and to improve Greater Southeast Community Hospital.
“To me it represents a more targeted way to serve the health care needs of our residents, especially the population most in need, the population in parts of Ward 5, 6, 7 and 8,” Williams said.
The mayor said that in the coming weeks he will work with the D.C. Council on new legislation. But Williams still has to bring the full council on board, so he declined to kill the National Capital Medical Center as an option. The center was to be a joint project of the District and Howard University, built on the former site of D.C. General Hospital, but concerns about its financial viability led the mayor in April to create the task force to discuss alternatives.
The final report and recommendation, presented Tuesday, was backed by 10 of the 17 members.
