Saida to inaugurate trauma & burn hospital

The Turkish Trauma and Burn Medical Center is scheduled to open in Awali, Saida, by August of this year, according to Dr. Ghassan Doghman, CEO and Vice President of the center.

The 14,000 square meter (m2) land plot was granted by the Municipality of Saida and the construction of the building was funded by Turkey. The building’s built-up area is 16,000 m2. “The hospital’s construction was completed in 2010, but operations had not yet begun,” he said. Investments in the project have so far exceeded $10 million.

The center is specialized in trauma cases and in burns resulting from car accidents, violent attacks, and similar cases. “We are currently refurbishing the premises and renovating the equipment to keep them up to standard,” he said.

The center has a large emergency section with 23 fully equipped beds. It will employ 330 staff and include 103 beds. “Research shows that for each bed there should be 2.2 staff members, but we raised the rate to 3.1,” he said.

Doghman said: “The center will cover accidents within the Khalde-South radius because it is easily accessible.” The center will work in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health, as a public-private venture.

Besides Doghman, members of the board include Saida Mayor, Mohammad Saoudi as Chairman, businessperson Wajih Bizri, Parliament member Michel Moussa, and former Health Minister Mohammad Jawad Khalife.