Maputo, Mozambique, 18 May – Mozambican and European (Dutch and British) investors plan to transform the hospital on Mozambique Island into a luxury hotel, the head of district services of Economic Activities, Abdul Satar Naimo told Mozambican newspaper Notícias.

Naimo said that the government was analysing a proposal put forward by that group of investors as the hospital is a public building and if the proposal were approved it would be via an exploration contract provided under a concession.

Mozambique’s Health Ministry has already publicly stated that it does not have sufficient funds to refurbish the Mozambique Island district hospital, which provides healthcare to some 15,000 people.

It is a large building that is several decades old and is in an advanced state of disrepair.

Alfredo Matata, mayor of the Municipal council of Mozambique Island, said that the municipal area and the government, via the Health Ministry, had concluded it would be better to build a new hospital rather than lose money on refurbishing a ruined building.

“Rather than wasting money on repairs the government prefers to turn the building into a tourist attraction,” said Matata, referring to the old hospital. (macauhub)