With plans for construction of four additional hospitals throughout the city, the Tonderay Medical Association (TMA) remains the largest healthcare administration in the city. While under the direct control of Sabmadi Common Health Alliance (CHA) Tonderay Division, old associations from the times of the Union State persist in name if not in spirit.
All four new hospital designs were made by students as part of a Sabmadi Institute of Technology, University of Tonderay, and Tonderay Technical University cross-university architecural competition. Credit: DEOC Arquitectos, Alfatih Abdullah, Alexander Suharukov, and Amr Metwally.
The new plans bring the total number of hospitals in the city to 25, including 9 university-affiliated and other non-TMA hospitals. This coverage is estimated to be at well over 515% by the CHA, though critics have pointed out the lack of provision under these new hospitals for some extended services offered by the CHA. Under the current rules for extended services, optional additional insurance coverage can eliminate out of pocket costs for services offered under their plan, with out of pocket costs for services not covered.
The plans do not come with their fair share of controversy however, with many comparing it to the expansions of the TMA under the Union State. The TMA, however, distances itself from its expansionist past. A spokesman for the Association stated:
Modern Tonderay has modern needs, and our expansion aims to fit that. Our past does not affect our commitment to provide high-quality medical care to all, regardless of affiliation and cost.
This comes in sharp contrast to a controversial leaked tape of a board meeting last year, where now-disgraced CFO Martin Ahmad argued for the exclusion of patients registered with non-affiliated medical insurers in a passionate speech. The strong backlash in the medical community, the government, the general public, and many corporations has put a dampening influence on the previously-growing movement to restrict access to medical care.
The Director of the Common Health Alliance, Dr. Elias Asby, had issued a damning statement, calling Mr. Ahmad “a disgrace to Sabmadi and health policymakers”. While he later retracted his remarks regarding Mr. Ahmad’s motives and disposition towards Sabmadi, he stalwartly refused to walk back his statement on Mr. Ahmad’s character.
The new plans will cost the Government roughly Đh 750 million, an expense supported by the latest budgetary changes under Director Greyheart’s leadership of the Department of Health and Education. Dr. Asby has hailed these plans as “a strong step towards a healthier, stronger Tonderay”.
The hospitals will feature state-of-the-art overnight and long-term care facilities, pictured left, credit: Ahmed Hefnawy.
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