“CDA Capital Hospital Project Faces Controversy Over Technical Discrepancies”

​ISLAMABAD-(​Nadeem Ch)- A cloud of controversy has gathered over the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) flagship plan to overhaul the Capital Hospital under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. While the authority envisions a 500-bed world-class facility, a closer look at the Expression of Interest (EOI) reveals glaring technical contradictions that critics say could jeopardize the project’s integrity.
​The 150-Bed Paradox

​The most striking discrepancy lies in the eligibility criteria. The CDA aims to build a 500-bed tertiary care hospital, yet the EOI invites firms with experience in managing only 150-bed facilities. Healthcare experts have raised alarms, questioning how an entity with experience in a medium-scale hospital can bridge the massive operational and financial gap to manage a 500-bed international-standard institution.

​”Running a 150-bed local unit is vastly different from commissioning a 500-bed tertiary care center,” said a senior health consultant on the condition of anonymity. “Lowering the bar suggests the criteria might be tailored to accommodate specific, less-qualified bidders.”

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​The CDA has mandated that the redeveloped hospital must achieve Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation, the global gold standard for patient safety. However, sources within the industry claim that none of the hospitals currently vying for the project possess a valid JCI certificate. This creates a “standardization vacuum,” where the government’s lofty goals are not matched by the technical history of the applicants.

​The project, which is being steered with the technical support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a Transaction Advisor, has seen a surprising lack of scrutiny from the bank regarding these technical mismatches.
​Equally puzzling for many is the silence of the CDA Employees’ Union. Traditionally a vocal force against the outsourcing of departmental assets, the union’s “hands-off” approach has fueled rumors of internal consensus that may not necessarily reflect the best interests of the thousands of employees who rely on the hospital for free healthcare.

​The move comes at a time when the Federal PPP Policy 2023-2028 emphasizes “transparency, accountability, and value for money.” Critics argue that by ignoring these technical “blunders,” the CDA might be violating the spirit of the Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A) Act.

​As the December 1, 2025, deadline for EOI submission approaches, the CDA management faces increasing pressure to explain why the qualification standards were set so low for such a high-stakes project. If these concerns are not addressed, the transition of the Capital Hospital—from a dedicated employee facility to a private-led commercial venture—could become a textbook case of flawed procurement.