Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the consortium of International Hospital Group, UK (IHG), and MAS Associates Pakistan for setting up a 300-bed, Creek City Hospital (CCH).
The hospital will be established in Defence Phase VIII on a plot of 16 acres land already earmarked for the purpose.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony on Wednesday, the DHA Administrator, Brigadier Maqsood Hussain, said that DHA had awarded the contract through a transparent process. He said that initially a pre-feasibility study was prepared and accordingly Expressions of Interest (EoIs) were invited through the press.
He said that ten bidders submitted their EoIs, out of which the DHA Board short-listed three after thorough evaluation of each case.
He said that the DHA Board finally selected IHG-MAS Consortium on merit for setting up the hospital.
He said that IHG is a world known hospital group of UK having vast experience in hospital management and in setting up and running of similar hospital projects all over the world under the aegis of UN, WHO, IFC and Government of UK.
He termed the signing of the MoU as a momentous occasion and hoped that once the hospital became functional it would not only fulfil the health care needs of DHA, its adjoining areas and Karachi as a whole, but would also be able to cater to the requirements of Pakistan.
On this occasion, DHA Consultant, Dr Junaid Ahmed, said that MAS Associates possess a vast experience in equipment and material sourcing, engineering and design and project management of turnkey projects.
He said that MAS clientele include prestigious organisations of Pakistan like OGDC, Sui Northern, Sui Southern, Pakistan Railways, POF Wah, Wapda, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission etc.
He said that the other partners of the consortium are Arif Habib Securities, Principal Builders, Standard Chartered Bank and Pak Kuwait Investment Co Ltd, who would provide support to the project in their respective field of specialisation.
He said that the first phase of CCH was expected to be completed in two and a half years when all major units of the hospital would start functioning. He said that besides medical facilities the hospital complex would also include doctors' accommodation, service apartments, health and wellness centre, medical supermarket etc.