The $3.9 million refurbishment of the inpatient wards included a new birthing pool in the maternity ward and replacement of the health centre's mechanical air conditioning and heating systems.
About 40 people gathered to hear Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman speak at the official opening at Clutha Health First yesterday.
He commended the Clutha community for its ongoing efforts to provide a reliable and well-functioning modern healthcare centre.
"It's great to see a community-run hospital and health centre evolve to provide the integrated models of care that the local Clutha community needs.''
The facility in Balclutha continued to provide timely and high quality healthcare to all comers, and it was important to maximise health and reduce the need for hospital care.
"You've got to do all you can to keep people out of hospital, if possible.''
Clutha Health First chief executive Ray Anton said he was very pleased with the upgrade and hoped there would not be a need for more refurbishments any time soon.
"There's always going to be things in the back of our minds, but in terms of major stuff like this, I think the building is good to go for quite some time.''
The latest refurbishment was in addition to an earlier upgrade and extension to the health centre. The second phase took about 18 months to plan and complete and cost about $1.3 million.
The two phases cost $3.9 million when combined.
The opening was also attended by Southern District Health Board commissioner Kathy Grant, Clutha Southland MP Todd Barclay, Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan, and Clutha Health staff and volunteers.
