10 Mar 2020

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Lemogang Kwape says due to budgetary ceiling, the planned upgrading of Selebi Phikwe District Hospital could not be implemented during the 2018/19 financial year.

Answering a question in Parliament on Monday, Minister Kwape said the hospital, which was to be upgraded from 60 to 120 beds, was in the National Development Plan (NDP) 11.

Minister Kwape said the project was also not prioritised during the NDP 11 Mid Term Review due to other competing projects, hence it might be considered during the next development plans, pending availability of funds.

The budget for the hospital was estimated at P360 million during the NDP 11, he added.

Minister Kwape said upgrading of the hospital was meant to increase the bed capacity as well as to cater for services including accident and emergency, radiology, laboratory, main operating theatres, occupational therapy, orthotics, prosthesis, specialised clinics (outpatient Department) and inpatient wards.

He was responding to the Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, who wanted an update on the construction of a hospital in Selebi Phikwe, timeliness for the construction, total budget for the facility and the description of the facility. ENDS