Despite looking ahead to Humansdorp-based Life Isivivana Private Hospital’s 20th anniversary later this year, the facility has yet to receive confirmation from the Eastern Cape Department of Health whether its 21-year contract will be renewed.
The hospital, a private facility making use of state-owned property, has a contract which ends next year and is still waiting to find out if that contract will be renewed. As previously reported by Kouga Express, Life Isivivana Private Hospital, the Eastern Cape’s oldest private-public partnership, first opened its doors in November 2004.
Adriaan Jordaan, West Coast regional manager for Life Healthcare, confirmed that Life Isivivana Private Hospital is in a Public Private Partnership with the State, managing a private facility within a state-owned property.
Since its establishment the hospital has had many successes. As mentioned in the Kouga Express, one of its many highlights was when the hospital was named Small Hospital of the Year within Life Healthcare at its fourth annual Life Achiever Awards in November 2018.
Despite Life Isivivana’s major impact on the community, the hospital’s future “hangs in the balance” as the Eastern Cape Department of Health is yet to confirm whether their Public Private Partnership contract will be renewed.
“The current agreement term is 21 years, expiring towards the end of 2025,” said Jordaan. “Aligned with the contract terms, the current hospital services continue in the best interest of our patients until advised otherwise by the Eastern Cape Department of Health.”
Eastern Cape Department of Health Provincial Spokesperson, Mkhululi Ndamase, said that, as with any contract nearing its end, Life Isivivana’s contract will also be reviewed.
“As such, the department will make a pronouncement on the way forward by the end of August this year,” said Ndamase. He further said that until the pronouncement has been made, they are unable to give an extensive comment on the hospital.
