Kuwait’s Public Works Ministry has invited prequalified contractors to submit bids for the contracts to build three new hospitals worth an estimated total of $1.5bn.

The ministry has set a submission date of 23 September for all three construction contracts. The deals are for the construction of the Al-Razi Hospital, the Pediatric Hospital and the Ibn Sina Hospital. All three hospitals have been tendered as design and build contracts.

The issuance of tenders for the projects follows on from the ministry’s invitation for contractors to bid for the construction of the estimated 600-bed Maternity Hospital, which will be located opposite the existing maternity hospital in the Al-Sabah district of Kuwait. Contractors have until 16 September to submit bids for the main construction contract.

The projects are part of Kuwait’s plans to expand its healthcare infrastructure to cope with its rapidly growing population. Kuwait’s population is expected to rise from the current 3.7 million to 5.4 million by 2030.

In addition to the Public Works Ministry’s plans to build several hospitals, Kuwait’s Health Ministry is undertaking a programme to expand nine existing hospitals.

In June, the ministry approved the award of an estimated KD173m ($617.5m) contract to the local Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting to expand the Kuwait Cancer Centre in the Sabah area of Kuwait.The cancer centre will contain 600 beds and its main function will be for diagnosis to complement an existing hospital for cancer treatment.

In April, the ministry awarded a KD98.1m contract to the local Associated Construction Company for the main construction package on the project to expand the Al-Amiri hospital.