Hospitals of Developing Countries: Design and Construction Economics

The design and construction of hospitals in the low income regions of developing countries represent a special challenge. Functional requirements must be satisfied, yet at the same time, cost must be reduced to affordable limits. The purpose of this paper is to define the economic and technological considerations that must be observed in the design and construction of these hospitals. In addition, it suggests strategies that could be adopted successfully in those regions. Relevant economic, technological, and sociocultural factors are identified. These provide a background for the hospital operation. The main components of hospital buildings and the most relevant design objectives are discussed. The cost of hospital construction in a developing country (Egypt) is analyzed and major cost items are identified. Means of cost saving are discussed that arrive at strategies for the reduction of initial and running costs. These strategies include the reduction of built areas, the adoption of appropriate construction methods and simple structural systems, the standardization of designs and components, the utilization of natural lighting and ventilation, the adoption of heavy duty materials, and the selection of appropriate electromechanical systems.