Israel’s biggest hospital may be built in Beersheva

The largest hospital in Israel will be built in Beersheva if a proposal to expand an area that the city can develop is approved by the National Council for Planning and Construction, according to Calcalist.

If approved after a 60 day comment period, the city will be able to develop a new hospital and industrial zone for pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

The new potential hospital will have about 1,900 beds — 1,000 for general medicine, the rest for geriatric care and a mental-health center.

The new hospital will take up about 4,305,000 square feet and include a 10-story central building, as well as other buildings will fewer floors.

Facilities for hotels, commerce and logistics will be built next to the hospital, and 350,000 square meters will be set aside for offices for biotech and pharmaceutical companies, which has been spurred with the development of a high-tech industrial park in the city, coupled with related academic resources at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

The development plan also includes the possibility of 250 to 400 apartment units for medical faculty employees, students and senior housing. A light-rail train will provide transportation from the hospital complex to Beersheba.

Calcalist estimated that the hospital will be functional within 15 to 20 years.

Beersheva is currently home to Soroka Medical Center, which was founded 60 years ago. Tel Aviv’s Sheba Medical Center is currently the largest hospital in Israel with about 2,000 beds and will be submitting a formal bid for the new hospital.