Relocation woes haunt healthcare complex

May 19, 2015 | 11:04
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Despite initial plans to begin operations in 2016, the $198 million Phuong Dong Health Care Complex is still facing difficulties in land clearance and compensation, as well as a lack of a sound infrastructure system.


Land clearance is a major problem facing almost all projects in Hanoi Photo: Le Toan

According to a representative from Phuong Dong Health Care Complex (Phuong Dong) the company could not clear the remaining 4 per cent of the land (equal to 4,000 square metres) for the last two years.

The reason for this delay, the source from the company said, was that the relocation housing for local residents was not fixed yet. The company, therefore, requested that Hanoi’s People’s Committee assign it as the investor for the relocation housing, in order to quicken the resettlement of residents and enable the rest of land to be cleared successfully.

The second obstacle, the source said, was the troublesome infrastructure system of the area where the complex is due to be located. This has caused difficulties for the company in moving equipment and materials to the site, as well as connecting the infrastructure system of the complex to the local system.

Moreover, she cautioned that transport systems around the project will make it very hard for the easy transport of patients.

The Phuong Dong modern health care complex, developed by the Infrastructure Investment and Transportation Construction JSC (Intracom), is to be built under the format of a hotel-hospital complex with the most up-to-date and advanced healthcare technologies and services ever seen in Vietnam.

In its first stage, the first 250 beds will be put into operation, built in a total area of 30,000 square metres. The following phases will see a centre for training, sports, surgery, rehabilitation, and a rest home.

Intracom has taken the project over from Korean investors Yukjin since 2010 under the name of Kwang Myung General Hospital, who also had difficulties mobilising resources during the economic crisis, aiming to build the biggest modern hospital complex in Asia.

The source from the company also added that in addition to high-end healthcare services, the complex will reserve 30 per cent of its capacity for serving non-benefit functions for people in vulnerable conditions.

Located in north Tu Liem district’s Co Nhue commune of Hanoi, in a densely populated area, next to many urban development areas such as Ciputra and Co Nhue -Chem, the complex is billed as a destination to supply high-end healthcare services to the local population which number in the region to about 200,000.

It is 25 kilometres away from Noi Bai airport and 15 kilometres from Hanoi’s centre. Apart from serving the local population, investors are aiming to attract foreigners working and living in Vietnam who would normally fly to neighbouring countries for treatment. It also aims to lure high-income Vietnamese who currently opt for Hong Kong or Singapore for their medical treatment.

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