Martin County residents keep pressing state officials for funding to reopen hospital

June 29, 2026 - 13:47

Nearly two years after Martin General Hospital closed its doors, residents are still urging state leaders to provide the money needed to bring medical services back to the area. The loss of the hospital has forced locals to drive long distances for emergency care, a burden that grows heavier with each passing month.

ECU Health has offered a potential path forward. The health system proposed converting the shuttered Martin General into a Rural Emergency Hospital, a new federal designation that allows facilities to offer emergency and outpatient services without full inpatient beds. The model is designed to keep critical care accessible in small communities while reducing operating costs.

But the plan hinges on state funding. Without financial backing from Raleigh, the conversion cannot move ahead. Residents have packed public meetings and written to lawmakers, stressing that the delay is not just an inconvenience but a matter of life and death. They point to the extra time it takes for ambulances to reach the nearest hospital and the strain placed on families who cannot afford to travel for routine care.

State officials have acknowledged the need but have not committed to a timeline or a specific amount. For now, the community waits, hoping that the next legislative session will bring the support they have been asking for.