In brief
- Somaliland Sun reported on 13 March 2016 that a launch event for the proposed Toon University Hospital was held in London.
- The proposal involved a hospital at Toon village, 18km south of Hargeisa, with conflicting bed figures reported as 750 and 250 per phase.
- The 2016 article provides no evidence that construction began, funding was secured, or the project advanced after the event.
On 13 March 2016, Somaliland Sun reported that a four-hour forerunner event for the proposed Toon University Hospital had been held in London on Friday night, 11 March 2016. The event was hosted by TUH Medical City PLC, a London-based company, whose directors met with Somali community members and briefed them on the project's significance.
According to Somaliland Sun, the proposal involved a hospital to be sited at Toon village, 18km south of Hargeisa. The report includes conflicting figures for the hospital's bed capacity. One part of the article describes a proposed 750-bed hospital, while another section states that each of the three phases will have 250 beds, totalling 750 when all phases are completed. Somaliland Sun does not reconcile these two descriptions.
Mr Paul Dupee, the TUH Project Managing Director, presented a draft design resembling a wagon-wheel and spoke layout. The project team also said they had conducted a fact-finding mission to Somaliland in November of the preceding year, though the report does not specify whether that was 2015 or 2016.
The article described the project's financial structure as a social enterprise, with the team director and CEO proposing a $300 million project funded by benefactors and investors in a 20:80 ratio respectively. Project CEO Mr Saeed Harir highlighted that a 'Medi-City' village complete with all amenities would be established in the vicinity of the hospital.
Somaliland Sun's report does not establish what has happened since the 2016 event. It provides no evidence that construction began, that funding was secured, or that the project received government approvals. The $300 million figure was a proposed project value, not a contract value or actual investment. The current status of the project, whether built, under construction, stalled, or cancelled, is not stated in the 2016 article and has not been independently verified by SCR.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Toon University Hospital project ever begin construction?
The 2016 Somaliland Sun report does not indicate that construction began. No evidence of construction activity after the launch event is available.
What is the current status of the $300 million hospital proposal?
The proposal's current status is unknown. The 2016 article only reports a launch event and proposed plans, not any subsequent development.
Who was behind the Toon University Hospital project?
TUH Medical City PLC, a London-based company, promoted the project. Its directors included Project Managing Director Mr Paul Dupee and CEO Mr Saeed Harir, according to Somaliland Sun.
Sources
Local reporting: this article is written for building work in Somaliland. Ground conditions, prices and rules differ between places; confirm the details for your own site.