Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has rejected claims that the government has spent over 20 billion dollars on the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James.

Dr. Tufton said just under 6 billion dollars has been spent so far, including 3.9 billion on the main building, and another 1.8 billion dollars on surrounding services and infrastructure.

He explained that the larger figure being discussed is a projection of what the full redevelopment could cost when completed, not money already spent.

Dr. Tufton also addressed claims regarding cost overruns.

He dismissed the widely circulated 20 billion dollar figure as false, and urged critics to stop spreading what he called, mischief.

He was speaking at the official opening of the hospital’s upgraded administrative block on Thursday.