In Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, plans for a federal medical center dedicated to Native American patients, first promised over 30 years ago, are finally moving forward. The 235,000-square-foot facility, backed by a recent $22 million commitment from the Department of Health and Human Services, aims to alleviate pressure on the aging Albuquerque Indian Health Center, where patients face long wait times. However, the Indian Health Service is dealing with a significant backlog of needed infrastructure improvements, with experts noting that the $1 billion recently pledged by HHS is only a fraction of the estimated $8 billion required to modernize aging health facilities. This ongoing neglect underscores challenges in accessing timely and quality healthcare for Native communities.
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Link to original article source: https://apnews.com/article/indian-health-service-construction-backlog-1993-native-american-b779a94f5885113da847d997460b1623
