CDA Hospital Privatization Faces Scrutiny Over Revised Tender

ISLAMABAD-( Nadeem CH)- The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) ambitious plan to transform the Capital Hospital into a 500-bed state-of-the-art facility under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has been mired in controversy. Following a report publishd in destenation potential irregularities, the hospital administration issued a revised advertisement that has raised eyebrows by retracting several key technical requirements.

“CDA Capital Hospital Project Faces Controversy Over Technical Discrepancies”
​Dilution of Eligibility Criteria
​The most significant point of contention is the sudden removal of experience-based conditions. The original Expression of Interest (EOI) mandated that bidders must have experience in operating at least a 150-bed multi-specialty hospital. However, the revised tender has reportedly scrapped this condition, effectively opening the floor to any investor or capitalist, regardless of their healthcare track record.
​Sources claim this move is aimed at facilitating a “preferred party” that lacks the necessary medical expertise but possesses significant financial and political clout. This has led to a critical question: how can a firm with no clinical background manage a complex 500-bed tertiary care hospital?
​ADB’s Advisory Role Under Fire.

​The Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is acting as the official Transaction Adviser for the project, is also facing scrutiny. Experts are questioning how a “non-technical” and diluted advertisement could be approved under the supervision of a global financial institution known for stringent transparency standards. Despite these glaring contradictions, the ADB has remained silent on the revised terms.
​The JCI Certification Paradox
​While the project aims for the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, insiders reveal that none of the private parties currently favored in the process possess such a certification. This raises concerns that the promise of a “world-class facility” may be a mere facade to justify handing over public assets to private hands.
​Employee Anxiety and Union Silence.
​The project, which involves the redevelopment of 126,000 sq. ft. of prime land near Islamabad’s Blue Area, has caused immense anxiety among CDA employees who rely on the hospital for free healthcare. Surprisingly, the CDA’s largest labor union, usually vocal against privatization, has maintained a strategic silence, leading to allegations of a possible “behind-the-scenes” settlement.
​Billion-Rupee Stakes
​Under the proposed deal, the private partner will not only operate the facility but will also receive billions of rupees from the authority for the construction of new blocks. Critics argue that the project is being “tailor-made” to benefit specific individuals, potentially at the cost of the public exchequer and the quality of healthcare for the city’s residents.