By David MacGregor

Work has finally begun on a R600 million state of the art hospital for Port Alfred, which means Sunshine Coast residents are probably counting the days when they will have access to proper medical care right on their doorstep.

To help matters, a massive upgrade is also planned for Grahamstown's Settler's Hospital as part of the deal.

The announcement of a Public Private Partnership in May between the Eastern Cape government and a private hospital group was greeted with scepticism by locals, after several decades of trying to acquire a proper hospital facility.

The recent development boom on the Sunshine Coast has turned a town once considered an ideal retirement haven for some, into a new economic frontier.

An excited Mari Bruwer, the Netcare PPP CEO, said quality health care for the whole community would be available by 2009.

Apart from upgrading public facilities, the establishment of full private facilities at both hospitals was one of the "most innovative" aspects of the deal.

"We are very excited about the fact construction on the Port Alfred hospital has finally begun and are happy to report construction is on track as planned," she said.

Although billed as an economic saviour for the Ndlambe region, the first phase of work on the site alongside the existing Kowie Hospital has been low-key as the land is flattened by graders.

Buildings are being demolished by hand by a private contractor hoping to salvage sash windows, doors and oregan pine ceilings and floor boards.

Initial capital expenditure on the two hospitals ? including new, state-of-the-art equipment ? would be in excess of R200m with a further R120 million invested over the 15 years that the PPP deal is in place.

The new private facilities will comprise a four-bed maternity and a 26-bed general ward at the Port Alfred Hospital and a 32-bed private facility at Settlers Hospital.

The Port Alfred hospital will also comprise 60 public beds, including theatres, maternity, labour and paediatric wards and an easily accessible out-patients facility.

Daily Dispatch