The Jerusalem Planning Board has given its green light for an expansion project for Shaare Zedek Medical Center as part of the Jerusalem 2020 expansion project. A major component of the master city plan includes expanding health services. The plan envisions Jerusalem becoming a world leader in medical care and research with this plan addressing a plot of land of the hospital on Herzl Blvd, at the corner of Beit Street in the Beit HaKerem neighborhood of the city.

The architect plans calling for increasing the hospital with three new buildings, parking lots, an array of entrances and exits and a central boulevard for pedestrians has been approved on 83 dunams (20.75 acres).

The first phase of the plan calls for expanding the hospital, to be actualized in the coming 20-25 years. The second phase is planned for the Betar soccer field south of the current plan and this is for at least 30 years from today.

Today the hospital operates on 100,000 square meters (built area) which includes 80,000 sq. meters of primary area and 20,000 sq. meters of services. The plan envisions a 300,000 sq. meter addition including the hospital, commercial center, patient and visitor services and parking for staff, students and visitors.

One of the three buildings will face Herzl Blvd. while the other two will face Beit Street.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat praises the plan and Shaare Zedek, which he exclaims is a leading medical facilty in Israel and an exemplary model for the world. He explains the city is planning long-term projects to Jerusalem becoming a leader in medical research, the expansion of Shaare Zedek for expanded patient services and strengthening current existing medical services.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)