Limpopo Central Hospital in the pipeline
Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, recently presented a proposal in a bid to have funds be made available to build the Limpopo Central Hospital which would boast 688 beds.
POLOKWANE – The delegation Ramathuba presented the proposal to included the World Bank, National Treasury, National Department of Health and the Provincial Treasury.
It is envisaged the construction would take five years and, if approved, she proposed construction should commence during the 2019/20 financial year.
“People cannot wait anymore,” she said.
“Plans for a new academic hospital have been in the pipeline for more than 10 years already but nothing has been happening except for promises made every year by politicians.
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“The establishment of the hospital is now critical as a medical school was opened at the University of Limpopo two years ago and the lack of an academic hospital with personnel and specialists will prohibit students from getting their theoretical training as required,” she explained.
During the 2017 National Budget Speech, former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that together with Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, former Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, and Minister of Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel, planning for the Limpopo Central Hospital and a medical school, to be based at the University of Limpopo, would go ahead.
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The Polokwane Municipality has donated land for the hospital to be established on.
Ramathuba’s Spokesperson, Thabiso Teffo, said the hospital would be a major boost for the province as it would provide quality healthcare and draw the interest of scarce, skilled professionals and specialists much needed in the province.
“It will improve the quality of health care for the people of Limpopo by providing a training platform for health professionals,” Teffo said.
In April Ramathuba also engaged the Presidential Infrastructure Coordination Commission (PICC) and Treasury delegates at Masana Lodge in Polokwane to discuss the implementation of the awaited academic hospital.
