Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town is set for a major redevelopment as part of a multibillion-rand public-private partnership (PPP) project. The Western Cape government’s Department of Health and Wellness communication deputy director, Mark van der Heever, has confirmed that requests for proposals (RFPs) will be issued next year.

The objective of this megaproject is to enhance healthcare infrastructure in the Western Cape by replacing the aging and inefficient Tygerberg Hospital. The new development will consist of two modern, technologically advanced facilities. Tygerberg Hospital serves as a teaching hospital, collaborating with Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The decision to redevelop the hospital was initially made by the provincial cabinet in 2009, with an estimated cost of R5 billion, excluding equipment. Due to the project’s size and complexity, it is classified as a megaproject and necessitates the support of both provincial and national stakeholders.

A feasibility study for the project was approved in November 2022, and it is currently in the procurement stage of the PPP cycle. This stage involves defining the output requirements to prepare the RFP, which is expected to be advertised in 2024. If all goes as planned, the new Central Hospital is anticipated to become operational by 2031.

The new Central Hospital will be an 893-bed tertiary facility located on the Tygerberg Hospital estate, maintaining close ties with higher education institutions for healthcare professional training. Another facility, the Belhar Hospital, will be a new 596-bed Regional Hospital providing Level 1 and 2 services on a designated site in Belhar.

Tygerberg Hospital will continue to operate until the new Central Hospital and the Belhar Hospital become operational.