Work will begin within three weeks on a $80 million (BD30.24 million) new private hospital in Bahrain, it was reported. The Jeddah-based Saudi German Hospital Group (SGHG) has signed a contract with Seef Properties to build the 100-bed hospital in Sanabis just west of Seef Mall.

A ground-breaking ceremony is being finalised by SGHG and Seef Properties.

SGHG administration manager (Bahrain) Hossam Hameed said the first phase of the hospital would be completed in 30 months and that it would be open by December 2003.

Hameed called the new medical complex a general-purpose unit, but added that future development phases would include several specialised health-care units, outpatient treatment clinics and an additional 200-bed patient wing.

Blueprints and an artist's conception of the Bahrain facility were expected to be released by June 1.

The Bahrain hospital will be SGHG's seventh healthcare centre in the Gulf and its first one outside of Saudi Arabia.

The company currently operates four hospitals totalling 1,012 beds.

It opened the 212-bed Jeddah Hospital in 1988 and the 100-bed Orthopaedics Hospital in Jeddah in 1998. SGHG opened the 400-bed Abha/Asir Hospital in southern Saudi Arabia last September. Its 300-bed Riyadh/Yasmeen Hospital opened three months ago.

Two other healthcare facilities totalling 600 beds are nearly finished. SGHG will open the 300-bed Riyadh/Yasmeen Hospital next month. The 300-bed Madinah Hospital will open in January 2002.

q The Karnataka Social Club (KSC) has moved into its new BD150,000 ($397,800) purpose-built complex, adjacent to its old premises on the Shaikh Isa Avenue.

It was constructed on a 660-sq-m plot of land taken on a 20-year lease. Work on the three-storey building was completed by the Al Namal Group of Companies.

The facility has several lounges and facilities for indoor games, computer-training and other activities for children.