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MALAGA’s third hospital will be a huge facility in all senses of the word.
The €543 million colossus, officially named Hospital Virgen de la Esperanza, is the biggest civil works project currently on the books in Andalucia – and, once finished, it will also be the largest hospital in the region.
Juanma Moreno, president of the Junta, said that construction will begin in the coming weeks next to the Hospital Civil. The build is expected to last between four and five year.
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Planned as a cluster of 15-storey blocks – 12 of them towering above ground – the vast development will rise like a vertical city of medicine on the edge of central Malaga.
The hospital will be anchored by a huge shared base that will form the operational core of the site.
The 815 rooms will include an emergency department to cope with the pressures of a growing coastal population.
That means 31 medical consultation rooms, eight nursing rooms and 61 observation beds just in A&E.
Eighty beds are available for the most serious cases.
Surgeons can now take advantage of 48 operating theatres in a high-tech surgical wing.
The hospital is devoted to specialist medicine with 158 rooms for various disciplines, and 38 additional rooms for nursing.
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Even dedicated space will be provided for research and teaching, making the complex a centre to train future healthcare professionals.
But designers haven’t forgotten the human element.
The natural light from the courtyards will soften what would otherwise be a harrowing medical experience.
Four towers of the hospital will be visible above the base. A hidden technical floor is used to keep all the systems working smoothly.
Lifts and corridors are being carefully planned so patients, staff and supplies move separately – a crucial detail in a hospital of this scale.
The contract for the work has now been awarded to a joint venture of major Spanish builders – Sando, OHLA and Vialterra – which will construct both the hospital and its associated facilities over roughly 75 months.
The complex is expected to be a focal point for the city, and will likely have its very own metro stop.
Moreno said that the name reflects a strong emotional connection for many. malagueños feel between the ‘idea of hope and the healing environment of a hospital.’
The decision, he said, was taken after confirming that Malaga’s society had a wide range of support.
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The link is natural for many residents. The Virgen of la Esperanza has been a Semana Santa symbol in Malaga for many years, and is a figure that represents comfort and hope during difficult times.
Francisco de la Torre, the mayor of Malaga has also supported this choice.
He said the dedication carried deep meaning for much of the population, and that the word ‘Esperanza’ fit a hospital in an exceptionally appropriate way.
Famous celebrities have also endorsed the idea malagueños, including actor Antonio Banderas.
Malaga’s mega-hospital is not a hit with everyone.
Critics say that building the city’s largest hospital will not solve the deeper problems in the local healthcare system – such as long surgical wait lists and overcrowded emergency departments.
Doctors have warned that if there is not enough staff in a building, it may struggle to operate at its full capacity.
There is also the issue of administrative obstacles and past delays.
The project was initially proposed several years ago. But delays due to planning and tendering setbacks have repeatedly pushed the timeline back.
Although there is a wide support for the new hospital, these concerns highlight a simple fact: a brand-new building is only a part of the solution.
Locals can only hope that infrastructure investment will be matched with equal investment in the people.
Moreno says that the first stone will be set in the coming week.
He added: “I’m sure that this hospital will give hope to residents of Malaga.”
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