SOUTH AFRICA— The government of South Africa through its Department of Health in close collaboration with the Limpopo Department of Health, has set aside nearly US$225M to set up the Limpopo Central Hospital (LCH).
The new 488-bed tertiary hospital, Limpopo Central Hospital (LCH), is proposed on a new site 48-hectare site in Polokwane to provide tertiary care for the province.
Moreover, the hospital will be the major teaching hospital for the University of Limpopo Faculty of Health Science and School of Medicine.
Health Minister, Dr. Joe Phaahla, and other government officials turned the first sod to mark the birth of the groundbreaking of the new hospital in Polokwane.
The barren land, situated a stone’s throw away from the Peter Mokaba Stadium, will soon be turned into the state-of-the-art hospital, which is one of the five flagship academic hospitals around the country.
Equipped with advanced medical technology, the Minister said the hospital will offer cutting-edge diagnostic procedures and innovative treatments.
The project, which was launched during this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day, has been a long time coming since the initial planning of the hospital started in the 2008/09 financial year.
However, Phaahla said he was pleased when a Master Plan, which was approved by National Treasury in 2022 was finally approved for the 488-beds hospital.
“This day of laying the foundation for the construction of the Limpopo Central Academic Hospital is a culmination of the work of many years by many people, some of whom are here while others are not,” said Dr. Phaahla.
The Minister announced that the health facility in association with the health science faculty of the University of Limpopo will make a significant contribution to health education and research.
“The establishment of a specialist hospital in this province will bolster the health sciences education and training, creating more opportunities for future generations to pursue careers in health sciences,” added the health minister.
However, the health minister insisted that the university’s health sciences faculty which houses the medical school, must start concrete plans to attract specialists and super-specialists to train doctors and other health professionals.
Dr. Phaahla was also of the view that the establishment will reduce Limpopo’s dependence on Gauteng for specialized medical care.
Meanwhile, as a teaching institution, it will also provide valuable educational opportunities for health sciences students ranging from medical students to nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, and more.
The hospital will also offer emergency health services, critical care, surgery, rehabilitation, and ancillary services.
The department has assigned the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) appointed as an implementing agent, working with technical professionals of Sakhiwo, and Enza construction company.
Minister Phaahla called on the service providers to deliver a quality product, on time and within budget.
“As a result, their mandate is to complete and hand over the keys by Christmas of 2026 to whoever will be the Premier or Minister and when they hand the keys,” reiterated Dr. Phaahla.
At various stages of construction, the department expects to produce about 2 000 jobs and about 2 000 more, once it is fully operational.
Phaahla thanked the Limpopo government for their cooperation and assistance and former Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi who started the process and laid the foundation for this hospital to be built.
“This Limpopo Central Hospital will be one of the pillars to deliver the National Health Insurance. In Madiba’s memory, let us deliver the Limpopo Central Hospital,” Dr. Phaahla said.
Additionally, the hospital project is expected to generate 1,220 part-time jobs during the construction phase and create 2,461 full-time jobs in Polokwane and the surrounding areas once it is fully operational.
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