Currie & Brown wins key role to project manage Mexican hospitals

Currie & Brown has won a key role on a £3bn project to manage the development of a hospital programme in Mexico.

The programme is one of the largest PPP initiatives outside the UK and the single largest PPP project to be managed by a UK consultancy. The contract, signed in May, entails the design, construction, financing and operation of seven new hospitals in Mexico over 25 years.

David Broomer, group commercial director with Currie & Brown, said: “This is a major new development for us, and forms part of our wider PPP programme in Latin America.”

The hospital programme in Mexico is part of a ‘second generation’ of PPP ventures in the country, following initial successful infrastructure projects, said Broomer.

Currie & Brown is also actively involved in projects in Chile, Guatemala and Peru, in addition to an existing PPP hospital venture in Mexico.

Broomer believes there is little difference between PPP projects in the UK and Latin America, as the basic principles remain the same.

Currie & Brown is vigorously pursuing PPP programmes both domestically and internationally.

This is a major new development for us, and forms part of our wider PPP programme in Latin America

David Broomer, Currie & Brown

“Risk analysis inevitably forms a core part of our assessment of the suitability of PPP arrangements in certain countries,” continued Broomer.

“There will inevitably be some degree of resistance to the initiative, but the benefits of PPP are so obvious no government could afford to ignore it. PPP has proved to be a highly effective method of procurement.”

Currie & Brown claims it has been involved in PPP projects abroad with a combined value of £35bn.

Eduardo Mar, Director of PPP projects in the Ministry of Health in Mexico, said: “Our vision is to provide universal social protection for health. This PPP programme is essential in delivering world class health services in Mexico that will enhance the productive years and life expectancy of the Mexican people.”

The new PPP hospital programme is in addition to four hospitals the Ministry of Health is developing through traditional procurement methods.

The company’s success in Mexico follows mixed fortunes elsewhere. Last year, it closed its Spanish operation, while the firm has improved its performance in the Far East and Europe. Falling fees in the US had also impacted on its profitability.