King Faisal Hospital, as seen in March 2021, has been undergoing an upgrade since January 2020. Photos/Village Urugwiro
Works to upgrade King Faisal Hospital- Kigali, Rwanda’s biggest referral hospital have been buoyed by a $14 million funding secured through the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB).
The Kigali-based hospital and the regional bank announced the development on Monday, saying that the funds will go towards the expansion of the KFH’s outpatient facilities in a bid to boost Rwandan health system.
The over $14 million secured in a 6-year primary forfeiting transaction will help KFK, a multi-specialty 160-bed quaternary hospital providing a range of specialized health care in Eastern and Central Africa, expand its facilities as part of the renovations and refurbishment that started in January 2020.
In addition to the new outpatient clinic and doubling of the hospital’s outpatient facilities capacity to 45 consultation rooms, TDB’s financing will support the renovation and construction of the outpatient block’s education and research centre, day care premium facilities, electric substation, safety ramps, and main entrance and lobby.
Additionally, patient flow and experience will be quicker and better, and each specialty clinic will now have a dedicated triage and consultation space.
“The expansion of King Faisal Hospital will enhance much-needed access in the region to quality healthcare services and support the health and well-being of the Rwandese people,” says Admassu Tadesse, TDB Group Managing Director and CEO.
“This transaction is an example of TDB’s growing financial support to the health sector in this more challenging market environment marked by the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.
Michael Awori, TDB Deputy CEO and COO added that: “for this transaction, TDB worked with the sponsor of the project, the contractor and Bank of Kigali Plc (BK, delivering liquidity to enable the project to continue its implementation, unlocking additional impact, especially given the premium placed on liquidity during COVID,”
“Furthermore, apart from direct SDG-3 benefits, this project will contribute positively to the country’s balance of payments, via new receipts from regional medical tourism in Rwanda, and savings from Rwandan medical tourism abroad,” Awori said.
KFH contributes greatly to the realization of Rwanda’s Health Sector Strategic Plan IV priorities and targets, in turn which support the achievement of SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being in particular, as well as other goals indirectly.
In January 2020, the hospital said the upgrade would cost about $20m.
President Paul Kagame has in the past said that the expansion and improvement of service of KFH and other key hospitals would help the country save millions of dollars spent on getting medical care abroad.
Prof. Miliard Derbew, the KFH Chief Executive Officer said that the funds, which will be disbursed through Bank of Kigali, will help the hospital realise its plans to expand and give care to as many patients as possible.
“The contribution of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) comes at a time when the hospital’s primary focus is to improve patient experience and the application of cutting-edge medical technology,” said Prof. Derbew.
“The construction of the education and research block will create an enabling environment for clinicians to develop innovative research projects that address Rwanda and the region’s unique clinical conditions and disease burden. This would also promote continuous capacity development for our medical practitioners, train in highest level specialties and have a fully established research centre,” he added.
TDB has been active in Rwanda since its establishment in 1985, providing support to the Government and to corporate clients alike, across various sectors – at the service of the sustainable development of the country.
This transaction builds on a donation of portable patient monitors to Rwanda Biometric Center (RBC) made last year as part of TDB’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Programme (CERP), in support of the Ministry of Health’s efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
