The Western Cape government strongly denies that the Hospital of Hope in the Cape Town International Conference Center (Kiks) is spending about R24 million a month on rent.
The government says it does not pay any rent, but does pay for the operating costs and certain services provided by the conference center.
According to Bianca Capazorio, spokesperson for the Western Cape premier’s office, the total operating budget for the field hospital from June to September was estimated at about R155 million, bringing the management of the facility to about R38.7 million per month.
“This is an estimated average cost per person per day and is not an exact science. “This includes all the costs for additional staff, medical gas, water, electricity, personal protective equipment (PPE), medicine, as well as outsourced services such as catering, security and cleaning the hospital,” she said.
However, the actual cost will depend on the number of patients in the facility. “We expect it to be much lower than what we budgeted for. The hospital can treat more than 800 patients at any given time, but the hospital has not yet reached its full capacity. ”
According to the province, the expenses for June were significantly lower than budgeted for, with the field hospital then being taken into use and due to patient numbers gradually increasing.
Capazorio says they have not yet received the invoices for July. This will give a better indication of the actual expenses.
“There is also an additional R7 million paid to the conference center for two wards set up as a storage place for PPE bulk supplies for the province and for additional hospital equipment, including the 862 beds that had to be stored while the field hospital in construction was. ”
She says they got a 50% discount. However, the lease agreement was not extended after 30 June, as the PPE bulk supply was moved to premises provided by the Cape Town City Council free of charge.
