Byo mulls 3 private hospitals

Oswell Moyo Chronicle Reporter
THREE private companies are seeking permission to establish three hospitals in Bulawayo to complement existing health facilities. The developments will see hospitals being built in the city centre, Luveve and Pumula suburbs after Corporate 24, Shandrila Investments and Veronicare Health Private (PVT)Ltd submitted their plans to council.

According to the latest council minutes, a development permit had been granted to Corporate 24, subject to the company meeting conditions set by council directors.

“A development permit to establish a private hospital on Stand 13652 Bulawayo Township is granted to Corporate 24 subject to full compliance with the requirements of the director of Engineering Services, director of Housing and Community Services, director of Health Services and any other municipal by-law requirement,” reads part of the minutes.

Shandrila Investments applied to build a 100-bed hospital that will have a trauma centre, a casualty department, outpatients, pharmacy, maternity wing and a laboratory, among others.

The city’s Engineering Services, Town Lands and Planning Committee recommended that a Pumula South stand be sold to Shandrila Investments at a cost of $27,500.

“The director of Engineering Services, Town Lands and Planning Committee has resolved to recommend to this Committee that Stand 25357 Pumula South as depicted on TPA 8252 and measuring 2.1 hectares in extent be sold to Dr C. P Mweyamweya of Shandrila Investments (Pvt) Ltd for the purposes of establishing a hospital at the City Valuer’s recommended selling price of $27,500 excluding VAT with a minimum building clause of a plinth area of 750m2,” read parts of council minutes.

There was also a recommendation to sell a stand in Luveve suburb to Veronicare Health (Pvt) Ltd at a cost of $10,000 excluding Value Added Tax.

The hospital seeks to “build a Class C hospital at the site with 50-80 bed capacity with an accident and emergency department, maternity, radiology and then admissions.”

The city has few private hospitals which charge exorbitant fees making it difficult for the majority of people to access their services.