F.D. Roosevelt University Hospital in Banská Bystrica (source: Sme)
The government has agreed to allocate money for the reconstruction of F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital in Banská Bystrica, PM Peter Pellegrini announced on January 30.
"Central Slovakia deserves such a significant investment," he added, as quoted by the SITA newswire.
The project, which is set to begin by the end of this year and finish in 2023, is expected to cost €104 million.
"We want patients to see the outcome of our work in the shortest time possible," claimed Health Minister Andrea Kalavská, as quoted on the government's website. "We really want our patients to be treated in nice rooms, in nice hospitals."
Old hospital
Analysts of the Finance Ministry consider the reconstruction the best solution for the hospital, as the Hospodárske noviny daily wrote.
The facility's building was constructed in 1982, and 34,000 patients are hospitalised there each year. In addition, 465,000 medical checks are carried out in the hospital annually.
The analysts predict the hospital could save between €5 to 64 million on operating costs, medical supplies, and wages by 2050 after the reconstruction.
Why not a new hospital?
On the other hand, analyst Dušan Zachar of the Institute for Economic and Social Reforms (INEKO) said that "the construction of a new hospital in Banská Bystrica, regarding the rate of return, is the most convenient", Hospodárske noviny wrote.
If a new building was constructed, the hospital in Banská Bystrica could save between €17 and 97 million. On the other hand, with additional costs, such as new road infrastructure and the purchase of land plots, the new project could end up costing €223 million, the analysts said.
However, Zachar opines that the old hospital complex will not adjust to current trends and needs of modern medicine, even after reconstruction, Hospodárske noviny reported.
