A MULTI-million-rand Mdantsane private hospital project that was scheduled to be operating by the end of 2013 has been delayed by funding troubles.
This was revealed by the hospital’s licence holder Dr James Kyagulanyi and property owner and developer Mark Povey this week.
The doctor, who in the past has been mum about the progress of the project, told Saturday Dispatch that despite construction work starting in 2010, and most of the work done last year, the project had now reached a standstill due to a lack of funding.
Kyagulanyi has been operating his small surgery at Golden Highway near NU13 since 2008. He was issued with a licence to run the hospital by the Eastern Cape department of health in 2009.
The hospital will be located next to the new Mdantsane SuperSpar which was also built last year and opened in December.
When completed, the two-storey hospital will offer 56 beds and two operating theatres and was originally estimated to cost about R43-million.
Povey, however, said following amendments that were discussed to cater for an expansion of the hospital to three levels the budget was stretched to R106-million.
Povey said they were in discussion with the department of health and investors to finalise a way forward.
Kyagulanyi said he had seen a need to bring a private hospital to the people of Mdantsane.
“I wanted to put my patients in one place. They struggled with the travelling costs to East London especially at night. We are still hoping to expand to at least 150 beds,” he said.
“In six weeks’ time we should be able to know exactly when the project can resume. We can’t say when the project will be done yet. However, despite the challenges we are faced with right now it is safe to say that the hospital will come with permanent job opportunities also.” —mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Funding thwarts hospital
This was revealed by the hospital’s licence holder Dr James Kyagulanyi and property owner and developer Mark Povey this week.
The doctor, who in the past has been mum about the progress of the project, told Saturday Dispatch that despite construction work starting in 2010, and most of the work done last year, the project had now reached a standstill due to a lack of funding.
Kyagulanyi has been operating his small surgery at Golden Highway near NU13 since 2008. He was issued with a licence to run the hospital by the Eastern Cape department of health in 2009.
The hospital will be located next to the new Mdantsane SuperSpar which was also built last year and opened in December.
When completed, the two-storey hospital will offer 56 beds and two operating theatres and was originally estimated to cost about R43-million.
Povey, however, said following amendments that were discussed to cater for an expansion of the hospital to three levels the budget was stretched to R106-million.
Povey said they were in discussion with the department of health and investors to finalise a way forward.
Kyagulanyi said he had seen a need to bring a private hospital to the people of Mdantsane.
“I wanted to put my patients in one place. They struggled with the travelling costs to East London especially at night. We are still hoping to expand to at least 150 beds,” he said.
“In six weeks’ time we should be able to know exactly when the project can resume. We can’t say when the project will be done yet. However, despite the challenges we are faced with right now it is safe to say that the hospital will come with permanent job opportunities also.” —mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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