Forest Hill facility expands military healthcare capacity in the Eastern Cape
A new R625 million Military Base Hospital in Forest Hill, Gqeberha, was officially opened on Thursday in a ceremony marked by a ribbon cutting and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane. The facility is intended to strengthen healthcare services for South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members, military veterans and their families in the province.
The project has transformed what began as a modest sickbay into a modern 30-bed military hospital, state-of-the-art emergency capability and a suite of diagnostic and therapeutic services, according to reporting on the opening. The hospital is one of only four military hospitals in the country, making it a significant addition to the defence healthcare footprint.
- Permanent 24-hour casualty and emergency care unit
- Fully equipped surgical theatre
- Modern diagnostic radiology suite
- Pharmacy and dental services
- Paediatric ward and 72-hour admission medical/surgical ward
- Ancillary health and rehabilitation services
"The construction of the facility symbolised three decades of growth," the Defence Minister said during the opening, according to the report.
Clinical capacity and emergency response on show
Officials staged live demonstrations during the ceremony to showcase the military's emergency medical response capabilities. Those demonstrations included parachute insertions by soldiers and a simulated gurney evacuation conducted by helicopters, intended to illustrate procedures used to treat and transport critically injured patients to the new facility.
Delegates at the opening were taken on tours of the hospital to view the clinical and support areas that make up the installation. The facility offers primary healthcare services and a range of specialised and supportive units designed to manage both routine and acute clinical needs for the defence community.
| Facility feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Beds | 30 (including a 72-hour admission ward) |
| Emergency services | 24-hour casualty and emergency care unit |
| Specialist facilities | Surgical theatre, diagnostic radiology, dental services, pharmacy, paediatrics |
Local and provincial context
For Gqeberha residents, the hospital represents a targeted upgrade to services that primarily benefit the defence community — serving active SANDF personnel, military veterans and dependants. While the facility does not replace civilian hospitals, its capabilities may reduce pressure from time-sensitive military casualties that previously required transfer to civilian trauma units.
The investment aligns with a broader national effort to modernise military healthcare infrastructure and ensure that service personnel and veterans have dependable access to care. As one of four military hospitals in South Africa, the Forest Hill facility lifts the defence sector's local clinical profile and provides an operational node for emergency medical support in the Eastern Cape.
At the opening, the display of airborne and helicopter evacuation capabilities underscored the dual role the hospital will play: providing routine inpatient and outpatient care while serving as a reception and stabilisation point for battlefield or operational casualties transported from the field.
Further operational details, such as staffing complements, referral arrangements with provincial health facilities and plans for community engagement, were not specified in the report of the opening ceremony.
The new hospital is expected to be a lasting component of the province’s defence health infrastructure and to support the SANDF’s capacity to deliver timely medical care to its personnel based in and around Gqeberha.
