Stuart Paterson said the Maniototo Lions Club and Ranfurly Maniototo Pakeke donated $250,000 to the hospital rebuild on Thursday which would go to the medical centre within the hospital and rest-home complex.
He said it was a "magnificent" effort and praised the Lions clubs for both their fundraising and securing a contribution from the international Lions movement.
The Lloyd Morgan Trust, the Lions’ national charitable arm, had donated $12,000, and Lions Club International donated $125,000.
The 26-room hospital and rest-home should be completed by Christmas, and it was hoped residents and patients would be in the facility by February, Mr Paterson said.
The existing rest-home "chalet" building would be refurbished to house the medical centre, which would include rooms for Ranfurly’s GP, visiting specialists and allied health professionals, a dental room and a Well Child/Tamariki Ora area.