Al-Qalam 
The Durban facility will offer subsidised – and sometimes free treatment – to disadvantaged communities in KwaZulu-Natal, writes Azra Hoosen.
For patients who cannot afford private healthcare, accessing specialised treatment can be difficult, often compounded by long waiting lists in the public health system. A new healthcare project in Durban aims to help address this gap by bringing a range of medical services under one roof, with a focus on patients who might otherwise struggle to access care.
The Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMASA) has launched its Legacy Health Centre project in Mayville, Durban, which is planned as a multi-specialty day hospital providing subsidised and, where possible, free healthcare to disadvantaged communities across KwaZulu-Natal.
Located on Deering Lane, adjacent to Ahmed Al Kadi Private Hospital, the centre is expected to offer renal dialysis, diagnostic imaging, surgery, physical rehabilitation and post-hospital recovery care.
According to Solly Suleman, head of the IMA Baytul-Nur Trust and chairperson of IMASA, the project represents a long-standing vision to make specialised healthcare more accessible to those in need. “It’s long overdue and a project for the pleasure of Allah, to help disadvantaged communities at large,” said Suleman. He also highlighted the importance of doctors participating in the initiative to help ensure its success.
IMASA revisited the idea of a charity hospital in 2008 but found that running one independently would be too costly. It instead partnered with private investors to establish Ahmed Al Kadi Private Hospital, with the IMA Baytul-Nur Trust retaining a share in the hospital. This partnership helped build the experience and resources needed to work towards its original vision of providing charitable healthcare.
The Legacy Health Centre will build on this foundation, combining subsidised and charitable services with income from paying patients to help keep the facility running in the long term.
Services
The planned three-storey facility will include a six-bed charity day hospital with an operating theatre, a 22-bed step-down care unit, a 20-bed renal dialysis unit, a radiology unit, physical rehabilitation facilities and specialist consulting rooms. The basement will provide 90 parking bays.
The charity day hospital will serve indigent patients without medical scheme cover, while the step-down unit will provide recovery care, including wound management and rehabilitation, for patients who no longer require acute hospital treatment.
The new dialysis unit will increase capacity from 15 to 20 beds, expanding provision for patients who depend on regular treatment. The radiology unit will offer diagnostic imaging at reduced rates for eligible patients. Income from paying patients will help subsidise charitable services.
Plans also include healthcare training, public health education and community awareness programmes focused on kidney health, prevention and early detection.
Yasiera Mahomed-Suliman, vice-chairperson of IMASA Durban and an IMA-Baytul-Nur trustee, told Al-Qalam that her years working in underserved communities had given her firsthand insight into the barriers people face in accessing quality healthcare.
“You see the reality of people who stand in long queues at government hospitals and clinics, sometimes for hours, only to leave without receiving the care they desperately need. Others simply cannot afford private healthcare and are left with very few options. Healthcare should never be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it; it is a fundamental human need,” she said.
The project is estimated to cost R120 million. The properties have been acquired, plans finalised and a professional team appointed. Municipal and town-planning approvals and a healthcare licensing application have been submitted to the relevant authorities.
The project remains in the fundraising and preparation stage, with construction and the procurement of medical equipment still to come. No opening date has been confirmed.
“The IMASA Legacy Health Centre is particularly close to my heart because it’s going to represent more than just a healthcare facility. Our vision is to create a sustainable legacy of compassionate, accessible and quality healthcare that will serve our communities for generations to come,” said Suliman.
