The foundation stone was laid last month for the Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa Specialist Cardiac Centre in Awali, Bahrain.

Work on the BD40.3-million ($105.3 million) state-of-the-art medical facility, which covers 44,000 sq m, is expected to be completed within 36 months.

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, who patronised the ceremony at the site of the project, affirmed the government’s strategy to open more specialised medical centres to ensure world class healthcare in the country.

“Once operational, the facility will have 148 beds, up from 68 beds at the existing centre,” said Supreme Health Council president Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.

The centre will include outpatient clinics, X-ray imaging, a pharmacy, physiotherapy and a sterilisation ward on the ground floor. The second floor will include operating theatres, an intensive care unit and the lab.