Egyptian Health Minister Khalid Abdel Ghaffar conducted a field tour in Cairo to oversee the implementation of two major healthcare projects. He visited the construction site of Bolak Abu El-Ela Hospital and the Nile Medical City, also known as Nasser Institute. The minister emphasized the importance of adhering to the timeline and quickly integrating these projects into the healthcare system. This visit aimed to assess the progress and address any challenges.
At Bolak Abu El-Ela Hospital, the minister reviewed the project's current status, which began in April 2022 and has achieved 48.5% completion in its first phase. The project is expected to be finished by April 2027. The hospital will have 220 beds, including 145 for inpatient care, 55 for intensive care, and 20 for nurseries. Additionally, it will feature nine operating rooms, 66 outpatient clinics, and 19 dialysis units. The minister urged the contractors to accelerate the work and resolve any obstacles.
The minister then inspected the Nile Medical City project, which has reached 53% completion on a 138,000 square-meter site. The project is slated for completion by July 2027. This medical city is expected to enhance Egypt's position as a regional hub for medical services and attract patients from various countries. The project will significantly increase the city's medical capacity, improving the availability of specialized treatments and reducing waiting times.
The Nile Medical City project involves upgrading the existing infrastructure to provide comprehensive medical services. Once completed, the total number of beds will rise from 682 to 1702. This includes an increase in inpatient beds from 547 to 1276, intensive care beds from 125 to 331, and pediatric beds from 10 to 95. The project also aims to expand therapeutic and specialized services.
During his visit, the minister reviewed the progress in various buildings within the medical city. The construction of doctors' and nurses' residences is nearly complete, with 99.53% and 99.80% completion rates, respectively. The multi-story garage is 84.10% complete, while the new hospital stands at 18.50% completion. The waste management building is finished, with 100% completion.
The minister also examined the progress in other facilities, including the outpatient clinics, which are 90% complete, and the research and diagnostic center, which stands at 40%. He emphasized the need to adjust the timelines and intensify work, particularly on the future expansion and on addressing observations on the nurses' residence.
Another project inspected was the Nile Children's Hospital, which aims to provide 306 beds on a 28,400 square-meter site at an estimated cost of 1.77 billion Egyptian pounds. The hospital will have 192 inpatient beds, 65 intensive care beds, and 24 nurseries. This project seeks to enhance specialized medical services for children and increase the capacity of the Health Ministry.
Key points
- The Egyptian government aims to enhance its healthcare system through these projects.
- The projects are expected to be completed by 2027.
- The medical city will significantly increase Egypt's medical capacity.
