After 12 years the Gauteng government has finally decided to reopen the abandoned hospital in Kempton Park, which the Mail & Guardian highlighted three weeks ago.
It was reported this week that the health department plans to relaunch the Khayalami Hospital as South Africa’s first “Folateng-model” hospital — a private institution run by the state.
In its new form the hospital will have about 270 beds and will be primarily for patients on medical aid schemes.
The health department plans to complete an in-house feasibility study by the end of this year, aiming to include the hospital in its budget for 2010-11.
According to DA health spokesperson Jack Bloom, Gauteng health minister Qedani Mahlangu has pledged to involve the local community in the reopening of the hospital and to meet the Kempton Park Hospital Forum, comprising interested parties from the area.
Riaan Olivier, a forum member, said the hospital would work only “if there is a real, strong partnership between the community and government”.
“I’m happy that it’s reopening, but I’ll feel much better if the people with a vision for it could be part of the process and its success,” said Olivier.