OREANDA-NEWS. Advanced Health will open six new day hospitals in South Africa in the next fifteen months and is investigating the acquisition of two day hospitals in Sydney, according to a press statement following its annual general meeting held onThursday 27 November 2014.

In Australia, where the company owns three day hospitals and started construction of a fourth, two acquisitions are being negotiated.

Projects in the pipeline for South Africa include:

These facilities will bring the number of operational South African day hospitals of Advanced Health to eight, in line with the company's growth plan.

Advanced Durbanville Surgical Centre (under construction, operational Q3 2015);

Advanced Panorama Surgical Centre (under construction, operational Q1 2016);

Advanced Soweto Day Hospital (under construction, operational Q1 2016);

Advanced Knysna Surgical Centre (construction Q1 2015, operational Q1 2016);

Advanced Waterkloof Somerset Surgical Centre (construction Q1 2015, operational Q1 2016); and

Advanced Worcester Surgical Centre (construction Q1 2015, operational Q4 2015).

"The new facilities are based on the Advanced business model, which aims to develop quality, cost-effective units in partnership with medical practitioners," says CEO Carl Grillenberger. The objective is aligned to the requirements of medical schemes and the Department of Health. Participating doctors are offered shareholdings in the operational company of each day hospital, in line with Advanced's partnership philosophy. Advanced retains the majority shareholding, concentrating on overall management, staff and increased efficiencies through central services. Advanced Health remains confident that the investigation of the South African Competition Commission into the services rendered by private hospitals in South Africa will result in an affirmation of the valuable role day hospitals can play in rendering cost-effective surgery on a same-day basis.