Kuwait’s health ministry is seeking bids for a contract worth an estimated $700m for the expansion of Al-Adan hospital.

The project involves building a new 637-bed annex for women and childbirth, a new surgical building that will offer 21 operating rooms, and a new wing for medical and physical therapy. The project also includes construction of laboratories, a pharmacy, and a car park for about 2,500 cars.

A total of 26 firms have been prequalified to bid on the project. Tenders must be submitted by 10 November.

The project is part of a plan to expand nine hospitals in Kuwait to improve the provision of public health services in the country. The expansions will add 5,000 beds to the current capacity of the state’s hospitals.

In August, the local Burhan International Construction Company submitted the low bid of $1.27bn for the contract to expand the Jahra Hospital. Local Bayan National Trading Company had the second lowest bid ($1.38bn). The package includes the construction, furnishing, and operational maintenance of a 1,157 bed hospital adjacent to the existing Jahra hospital in the Jahra governorate of Kuwait.

Earlier this month, the ministry extended the closing date to 29 September for bids for the contract to build an annex to Al-Sabah hospital.

In June, a joint venture of Metallurgical Corporation of China and local Al-Tawbad General Trading and Contracting Company submitted a low bid of $184m for a contract to expand the Infectious Diseases Hospital in the Al-Asimah governorate in Kuwait.