Bahrain-based Venture Capital Bank said its ambitious new hospital project to be built in a strategic and exclusive location in the Southern Governorate was on track.

The Royal Maternity Hospital, designed to British standards, will provide world-class basic and advanced healthcare services for women and children, said a top official.

'The architectural, engineering, medical equipment consultancy and project management for the project has been awarded to AECOM, with the front and architecture design developed by Irish architectural firm Scott Tallom Walter,' said bank board member and chief executive officer Abdullatif Mohammed Janahi.

'We plan to award the construction contract to the main contractor in December and commence work in January.'

Janahi said the hospital is expected to bring about a qualitative leap in the standards of healthcare in Bahrain by developing a centre of medical excellence that will offer women world-class medical services in an exclusive and luxurious environment designed to the highest quality.

'The initial focus will be the provision of comprehensive maternity services, extending to pre-natal and post-natal care, in addition to gynaecology.'

He said the hospital will be staffed with the top quality medical professionals and support staff and will be operated in accordance with the best practices prevailing in top UK-based healthcare facilities.

'The bank has attached special importance to the health sector in Bahrain and has fully realised, through a feasibility study of specialised projects, the urgent need for large hospitals equipped with latest equipment to provide premium medical services in compliance with international standards of highest quality.'

He said based on this need, the idea to establish a specialised hospital capable of providing world-class medical services and required healthcare for women and children had emerged.

He said the project follows the establishment of the German Orthopaedic Hospital, which is specialised in orthopaedics surgery.

'This unique project also serves as a complementary part of a Venture Capital Bank plan, which aims to establish a series of medical centres of excellence in various medical specialisations and branches in to make Bahrain and the Gulf region a prominent medical hub.

'We seek to carry out more specialised projects in future which aim at providing high-quality medical services.'

Venture Capital and Business Development division executive director Saeed Haji said they had completed the initial phase of design and had embarked on the detailed design stage.

'We look forward to creating a medical facility of the highest standard that provides women in Bahrain and the Gulf region with the healthcare of quality that exceeds expectations and which is in line with the best available internationally,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service