§ 2. Declaration of policy and statement of purposes. It is hereby
found, declared and determined that the provision and delivery of
comprehensive care and treatment of the ill and infirm, both physical
and mental, are of vital and paramount concern and essential to the
protection and promotion of the health, safety and welfare of the
inhabitants of the state of New York and the city of New York.

There are serious shortages in the number of personnel adequately
trained and qualified to provide the quality care and treatment needed.
A myriad of complex and often deleterious constraints and restrictions
place a harmful burden on the delivery of such care and treatment.
Technological advances have been such that portions of the health and
medical services now delivered by the city are not as advanced as they
should be. A system permitting legal, financial and managerial
flexibility is required for the provision and delivery of high quality,
dignified and comprehensive care and treatment for the ill and infirm,
particularly to those who can least afford such services.

It is further found, declared and determined that hospitals and other
health facilities of the city are of vital and paramount concern and
essential in providing comprehensive care and treatment for the ill and
infirm, both physical and mental, and are thus vital to the protection
and the promotion of the health, welfare and safety of the people of the
state of New York and the city of New York.

There are inadequate general and specialized health care facilities
including but not limited to nursing homes and related laboratories and
ambulatory care clinics and centers and diagnostic treatment centers.
The inadequacy and shortage of health facilities derives from such
factors among others as the rapid technological changes and advances
taking place in the medical field. These changes and advances have
created the need for substantial structural and functional changes in
existing facilities. Many of the health facilities of the city are
overcrowded. Buildings are deteriorating and many suffer harm as a
result of piecemeal and uncoordinated additions. The facilities
available for education, research and development are inadequate to meet
the demands of the medical field. Procedures inherent in the
administration of health and medical services as heretofore established
obstruct and impair efficient operation of health and medical resources.

It is found, declared and determined that in order to accomplish the
purposes herein recited, to provide the needed health and medical
services and health facilities, a public benefit corporation, to be
known as the New York City health and hospital corporation, should be
created to provide such health and medical services and health
facilities and to otherwise carry out such purposes; that the creation
and operation of the New York city health and hospitals corporation, as
hereinafter provided, is in all respects for the benefit of the people
of the state of New York and of the city of New York, and is a state,
city and public purpose; and that the exercise by such corporation of
the functions, powers and duties as hereinafter provided constitutes the
performance of an essential public and governmental function.