Featured News
Green light for new healthcare district
Author : Gulf Daily News
Published: January 24, 2012
A NEW medical district will be created in the centre of Bahrain, it has emerged.
Authorities have given the green light for a designated private healthcare zone near Isa Town.
It will house specialist hospitals and clinics, as well as support facilities such as hotels catering to medical tourism.
The plan, already approved by the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry, was sanctioned yesterday by the Central Municipal Council.
Area councillor Ahmed Al Ansari said he hoped the new medical district in Buhair, stretching along a section of the Al Estiqlal Highway, would become a healthcare hub.
He also suggested similar projects could be launched elsewhere.
"I believe that the location will now get more attention from businessmen wishing to open private hospitals and clinics, rather than regular projects," said Mr Al Ansari, who is also the Central Municipal Council services and public utilities committee chairman, during the council's meeting yesterday.
"The place is calm, quiet and beautiful, which makes it attractive, and I am confident that within the upcoming 18 years it will be turned into Bahrain's top private medical destination.
"We hope that Buhair's experience will succeed so other investors consider coming forward and investing in other areas."
It is the first such initiative in the Central Governorate and will establish a medical district that stretches from December 16 Highway to the petrol station located on the edge of the historic Buhair Valley.
The project has been approved by Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi, based on an urgent proposal by Central Municipality director-general Dr Mohammed Hassan.
Dr Al Ka'abi accepted a council decision to allow businesses that are not strictly healthcare-related, but which would support the growth of the medical industry, to open within the zone.
The minster also backed a council proposal to create medical strips in other areas of the Central Governorate, on the condition that they are located in buildings no less than six storeys tall.
"Originally, I sought to have Buhair turned into a designated area for private medical services, but councillors had reservations that the strip shouldn't be dominated by hospitals and clinics," Dr Hassan explained.
"As decided by the minister, the area will be opened for medical facilities but investors will be allowed to open businesses and services in support of hospitals and clinics that open there.
"Currently, regular businesses are allowed to open on Al Estiqlal Highway, but we see Buhair as a potential place for the private sector to open hospitals and clinics."
He revealed that no government or municipal land existed in Buhair, which meant authorities had to come up with new ideas - such as zoning - to encourage development there in specific sectors.
"We have to take into consideration that no government or municipal land is available in Buhair for any projects," he said.
He also claimed there had been a huge response from the private sector following discussions on the medical district last month, but added no official applications had been accepted since the minister's decision had only just been approved by the council.
"Today we start with Buhair and soon designated medical strips will be allowed to open elsewhere on the condition that they are in places where there are six-storey buildings," added Dr Hassan.
However, council technical committee chairman Ghazi Al Hamer suggested allowing medical services to operate in buildings having less than six storeys - something the council has already proposed.
"There is currently no classification that organises the opening of medical facilities in the governorate and the minister has taken Buhair's building classification as standard," he said. "Hopefully, building requirements for medical services will be revised, but until then Buhair and areas that have six-storey buildings will be the places where hospitals and clinics can be opened."
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