Construction works of the future premises of University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) were officially launched on Thursday, March 30, paving the way for the introduction of Rwanda’s biggest hospital by any measure.

Once the new hospital in the Masaka area of Kicukiro District, in Kigali, is complete, all CHUK services will be relocated from the city centre to the new facility.

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Below are eight things to know about the project that will be one of the biggest in the region.

1. Capacity

According to the Ministry of Health, the new hospital will have the capacity of 837 beds and be able to receive 2,000 patients per day. The Current CHUK premises have the capacity of around 400 beds. Masaka Hospital has less than 100 beds.

With more than 10 building blocks, the new facility will be built on 8.2 hectares. It will be the biggest general and university teaching hospital in Rwanda.

2. Construction budget

The renovation and expansion project of Masaka Hospital, which will be the premises of the CHUK, is funded by the Chinese government.

Officials have not communicated the budget for the project. But in August 2019, Igihe reported that the new hospital project would cost $100 million.

Considering the construction material price hikes due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, there’s little doubt that the construction works could even cost two or even three times the initial amount.

3. Additional services

A bigger CHUK will also have more services which are not available at the old facility.

In addition to inpatient, outpatient, emergency, pediatric and infectious diseases departments, the new services will include an air compressor room, an oxygen generator station, radiology department, blood bank and laboratory department, central sterile supply department.

4. When will CHUK relocate?

The construction works began two months ago and are planned to be completed in 2025. Then, other factors constant, the services offered at the old CHUK premises will be relocated to the Masaka area.

5. Why relocate?

The health facility, now called CHUK, was built in 1918. It started offering services as a health centre in 1928. It became a hospital in 1994, providing referral services.

The decision to relocate CHUK was announced in 2018. The hospital is very old and needs deep renovation and extension as it was built in the 20s. Considering the current neighbourhood, the location is inappropriate.

6. Status

The new CHUK will be a referral and teaching hospital.

Some of its blocks will be dedicated to research activities.

7. What next for Masaka Hospital

Masaka Hospital is the Kicukiro District hospital. The current premises of Masaka Hospital will be integrated into CHUK. The Minister of Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, said that the government will build a new district hospital for Kicukiro.

Detailed plans about the proposed district hospital have not yet been announced.

8. What happens to CHU's old location?

Once CHUK is relocated from the city’s central business area, the vacant plot will be used for other purposes. City planners have not yet announced the future plans for the area which is located in the city’s central business zone.