By Flata Kavinga
A new private health facility, Kwekwe Specialist Hospital, is expected to open its doors in March this year, offering a broad range of general and specialised medical services to residents of Kwekwe and surrounding areas, its Clinical Director Dr Brian Paketh has said.
In an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube’s tour of NDS 2-aligned Central Business District (CBD) developments in Kwekwe, Dr Paketh said the 40-bed hospital will provide round-the-clock services, including a 24-hour casualty and emergency unit, aimed at improving access to critical care in the district.
“The hospital will offer services ranging from general practice to specialised care,” said Dr Paketh. “General practitioners will be available for at least 12 hours a day, while specialist doctors will be visiting to provide specialised services.”
He said the facility will also house a 24-hour pharmacy, ensuring continuous access to essential medication for patients.
Dr Paketh noted that Kwekwe Specialist Hospital will introduce advanced radiology services, including X-rays, CT scans and an in-house MRI scan, which he said has not previously been available in Kwekwe.
The hospital will also have a maternity wing with capacity to accommodate at least 14 expectant mothers, as well as services targeting patients affected by drug and substance abuse.
“We will be offering rehabilitation services, including occupational therapy and physical therapy,” he said, adding that the services are intended to cater for a wide section of the community.
According to Dr Paketh, the hospital will attend to patients with medical aid cover as well as those without, stressing that patients in need of care will not be turned away.
He did not disclose the total cost of establishing the hospital.
The opening of Kwekwe Specialist Hospital is expected to ease pressure on existing public health facilities and improve access to specialised medical services in the Midlands Province.
