INFRASTRUCTURE projects worth more than BD15 million ($39.5 million) are underway at Bahrain’s main hospital.

The schemes at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) include a BD5.6-million ($14.85 million) multi-storey car park, a BD6-million ($15.91 million) power station, a BD4-million ($10.60 million) outpatient clinic and a BD38,000 ($100,529) expansion of the accident and emergency department, according to a report in the local Gulf Daily News newspaper.

Another BD3.9 million ($10.34 million) has been allocated to develop medical centres and other health facilities in the Capital Governorate, said Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi.

“We are waiting for a site study report on the parking facility at SMC, which is expected to be submitted by early 2015,” he said.

“The power station will be equipped to support the present and future needs of SMC. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

“The site study report of the new outpatient block is also pending.”

He revealed that other health projects in the governorate comprised development and maintenance of several health centres, including a BD2.5-million ($6.62 million) expansion of Al Razi Health Centre.

“The expansion of Hoora Health Centre with an additional building including a two-storey section for radiology department and expansion of the pharmacy records facility, all costing BD700,000 ($1.85 million), are under tendering.

“A radiology lab in Ibn Sina Health Centre in Ras Ruman worth BD502,000 ($1.3 million) and expansion of Al Naim Health Centre costing BD260,000 ($689,473) are both in the design stages.”

Al Shehabi said work was also under way to improve facilities at the health centres in Seef and Sanabis.