Profica expands focus on specialist healthcare services

It is very clear that dramatic healthcare capacity expansion has to be a priority now, across Africa and the globe, as countries grapple with the impact and potential impact of COVID-19. With a number of healthcare sector projects completed and underway, Matthew Renshaw, Chief Operating Officer of construction and property solutions company Profica, says his team is experienced, focused and ready to put 15 years of Pan-African experience to bear in managing the construction and upgrades of specialist healthcare facilities, now and beyond the pandemic.

Renshaw says Profica’s in-house expertise in the healthcare sector, from technical advisory services to design to working with specialist providers, can provide huge value when the pressure is on to deliver. “What makes the healthcare property solution different is the complexity associated to the design of the building as we create and redevelop different clinical environments with specific requirements in hospitals and healthcare buildings. This further requires strong facilitation with multiple consultants, including medical equipment suppliers.”

Profica further has essential experience in delivering complex upgrades without disrupting existing operations. “Hospitals often must remain operational in various areas while construction is underway. Expert project management is essential to deliver a phased project within a live environment, frequently in very tight timeframes and in sensitive areas.”

Key client Netcare appointed Profica to work on a number of the company’s capital programmes and redevelopment projects. Projects for Netcare include the delivery of specialist areas, such as an oncology bunker in Pinehaven, as well as major developments, including Netcare’s largest capital projects in the Gauteng region.

Profica is currently providing a full project management and principal agent solution for the new 427-bed Netcare Alberton Hospital, from design through to construction, specialist fit-out and commissioning. Due for completion in 2021, this flagship hospital will replace the Netcare Union and Netcare Clinton hospitals as Netcare continues to upgrade its infrastructure in South Africa. The Level 1 Trauma hospital will offer a state of the art Cardiac Centre of Excellence as well as a wide spectrum of other medical disciplines.

Profica further acts as the client representative on various re-development projects for Netcare at hospitals including Olivedale and Linksfield. Renshaw says, “We represent the client on capital projects as well as existing refurbishments and extensions. Locating a small, skilled team at Netcare’s offices allows us to be as close to the business as possible, where we are able to gain the necessary insight into processes and approaches.”

Life Healthcare is another repeat client and Profica has project managed complex projects from the new Catheterization Laboratory at the Life Anncron Hospital to a new build Neuro Theatre at Life Wilgers Pretoria, delivering the facility in a live environment adjacent to the existing theatre to a tight deadline.

Beyond private sector initiatives, Profica has delivered advisory services for the Kwa-Zulu Natal Provincial Department of Health. “We’re ready to step up to the plate in public sector healthcare initiatives,” says Renshaw. “The South African government has been focused on accelerating the development of some of its major academic hospitals, with plans to cascade revitalisation through to each level. There are far more levels to public-sector healthcare than private sector, and each of these needs to be revitalised in order to feed into the larger system. The National Health Insurance programme will require healthcare infrastructure development at the grassroots, clinic level through to district and tertiary hospitals.”

Renshaw concludes, “The healthcare sector is facing unprecedented challenges to expand already stretched infrastructure in Africa. We’re dedicated to providing world-class environments for the teams of specialists, dedicated nursing staff and allied health professionals to be able to deliver the healthcare services we all rely on, now more than ever.”