Pretoria - The newly built state-of-the-art Germiston hospital in Ekurhuleni is set to open its doors for the public before the end of the year.
The 300-bed hospital, which is built next to the old Germiston hospital, was constructed over a period of three years at a cost of R489 million.
Taking the media through the new hospital building, Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development Bheki Nkosi said the hospital has been built according to specifications stipulated by the Department of Health.
The hospital is centrally located and is easily accessible to public transport.
Among the numerous features of the hospital are a helipad, a clinic and crSche, psychiatric ward, radiology department, crisis centre, neo-natal unit, blood bank and a 3 bed paediatric ICU.
The hospital also boasts state-of-the art systems, which according to Nkosi, will be fitted in all other hospitals that are going to be built in the province. These included a solar powered boiler system and a unique emergency power supply system, which will provide 100 percent power to the entire facility in case the primary supply is interrupted.
The hospital is an H-plan design, with a central covered atrium to be utilised as public waiting area.
Two other new hospitals that are currently under construction in Zola and in Natalspruit are expected to be handed over to the department during early 2012.
"In this financial year, we are busy with plans to build nine clinics for the Department of Health and Social Development," Nkosi said.
According to Nkosi, the building of the clinics, which will be situated in the various municipalities within the province, will take approximately 12 months.
During the construction of the Germiston hospital, a total of 7 714 jobs were created instead of the 3 093 jobs that were initially planned for.
The Department of Infrastructure Development is the chief custodian of public infrastructure in the province and is responsible for the construction, maintenance and registering of public facilities in Gauteng.
