KUWAIT: The new maternity hospital is set to open "in the coming weeks,” said Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi Tuesday. He revealed that outpatient clinics have already been fully operational, alongside the radiology and medical laboratories departments. This statement came following a tour of the new hospital by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and other ministers.
Spanning 65,000 square meters, the hospital is located in Al-Sabah medical zone in a prime location along the coast of Kuwait. It is designed according to the latest global standards for diagnosing and treating women’s health issues and providing care during childbirth, incorporating modern green building specifications that are environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. The hospital is equipped with the latest medical equipment and furnishings, featuring a capacity of 789 beds, 59 delivery rooms, and 28 operating rooms.
Dr Al-Awadhi said the new hospital features four climate-controlled pedestrian bridges connecting its four buildings, facilitating movement for healthcare staff and patients across a total area of 1,615 square meters. The design includes a seawall, acting as a buffer against waves, stretching 320 meters. This is a vital element in coastal construction projects, protecting the facilities and nearby properties from adverse climatic effects and supporting the stability of coastal developments.
The facility comprises four buildings, the first being the main maternity hospital, which covers 236,944 square meters across six floors, in addition to a basement and ground floor, along with three large towers. This building will house administrative offices, emergency services, operating rooms, pharmacies, radiology services, medical records, engineering services, laboratories, a fertility unit, physical therapy, infection control, mechanical services, and both adult and neonatal intensive care units, alongside patient wings.
The second building is dedicated to outpatient clinics, covering 56,740 square meters, with two basement parking levels accommodating 532 vehicles, plus a ground floor featuring a pharmacy and patient reception area. This building consists of five levels designated for outpatient services and administrative offices.
The third building is primarily for parking, with an area of 49,900 square meters, accommodating 1,219 vehicles across two basements, a ground floor, and five upper floors, bringing the total parking spaces to 1,800. The fourth building, designated for central services, spans 12,129 square meters and connects to the hospital buildings via a service tunnel. It includes solar panels for electricity generation, central air conditioning equipment, and underground fuel tanks.
In terms of key components and services, the new maternity hospital will have 470 private patient rooms spread across 19 wards, along with 80 beds in adult intensive care and 249 beds in neonatal intensive care. The outpatient department will host 81 clinics, alongside three main pharmacies (central, outpatient, and emergency). The maternity wards will include 59 delivery rooms, while the operating theaters will consist of 28 rooms distributed across four floors. Multiple laboratories will also be available, including histopathology, cytology, hematology, blood bank, biochemistry, microbiology, pre-marital screening, and a main blood collection unit in the outpatient building, along with radiology and rehabilitation departments. — KUNA