The board of commissioners of any county may acquire, hold, construct, improve, maintain and operate, own and lease, either in the capacity of lessor or lessee, general hospitals within the county for the use, benefit, health, comfort, safety and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth and appropriate moneys from the county treasury for such purposes, or may create a municipal authority pursuant to the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945 and appropriate moneys to such authority for any of such purposes.
16 P.S. § 2199.5