KUWAIT CITY, Oct 29:  Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi announced on Tuesday that the official opening of the new maternity hospital will occur within the next few weeks. The hospital’s outpatient clinics are already fully operational, alongside its radiology and medical laboratory departments.

This announcement followed an inspection tour by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and other ministers at the new maternity hospital located in the Al-Sabah Specialized Medical District.

Dr. Al-Awadhi emphasized that the new facility is a key component of the country’s healthcare infrastructure development plan, aligned with the "New Kuwait 2035" vision. This initiative aims to promote health and well-being for all citizens.

The new maternity hospital spans 65,000 square meters in a prime location along Kuwait Bay. It is designed according to the latest international standards for diagnosing and treating gynecological and obstetric conditions, featuring specifications for modern, environmentally friendly green buildings that are energy-efficient and capable of caring for premature newborns.

Equipped with cutting-edge medical devices and facilities, the hospital will have a capacity of 789 beds, including 59 delivery rooms and 28 operating rooms.

The hospital comprises four main buildings. The first is the main maternity hospital, covering 236,944 square meters with six interconnected floors, a basement, ground floor, and three large towers. This building will host the administration, main entrance, emergency department, operating rooms, pharmacies, radiology services, medical records, engineering services, laboratories, fertility unit, physiotherapy services, infection prevention department, mechanical services, and intensive care units for both adults and premature babies, alongside social services and patient wards.

The second building, dedicated to outpatient clinics, covers 56,740 square meters and includes two basements that can accommodate 532 vehicles, with a ground floor containing a pharmacy and patient reception area. This structure features five floors designated for outpatient clinics, along with a lecture hall and administrative offices.

The third building serves as a parking facility, spanning 49,900 square meters, accommodating 1,219 cars across two basements, a ground floor, and five additional floors, plus a rooftop parking area, totaling 1,800 parking spaces.

The fourth building is intended for central services, covering 12,129 square meters, and is linked to the hospital buildings via a service tunnel. It contains solar panels for electricity generation, central air conditioning equipment, underground fuel tanks, and generators.

Additionally, Dr. Al-Awadhi noted that the hospital includes four air-conditioned pedestrian bridges, connecting all project buildings and facilitating movement for health authority staff and visitors, with a total area of 1,615 square meters.

The hospital is designed with a seawall to act as a breakwater for waves, extending 320 meters, which is a crucial element in coastal construction projects. This seawall will protect facilities, coastlines, and surrounding properties from climatic effects, enhancing the stability of coastal projects.

Regarding the hospital's patient and service components, the minister detailed that there are 470 private rooms distributed among 19 wards, 80 beds in adult intensive care, and 249 beds in the intensive care unit for premature babies. The outpatient clinics will comprise 81 clinics, alongside three main pharmacies (central, outpatient, and emergency).

The maternity wards will feature 59 delivery rooms, while the operating room section includes 28 rooms distributed across four floors. Furthermore, the hospital will host several specialized laboratories, including those for tissue, hematology, blood diseases, blood banking, biochemistry, microbiology, premarital examinations, and the main blood collection unit in the outpatient clinic building, along with the radiology and physiotherapy departments. (KUNA)