Central Military Hospital launches refurbishment works to parts of its fire-damaged Surgical Pavilion

Comprehensive refurbishment works to the Surgical Pavilion of the Central Military Hospital - Teaching Hospital Ružomberok, which was damaged in a fire last October, are already underway and are officially scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023. Thanks to this, the hospital will be able to provide better patient care.

The refurbishment works extend to the premises of the Anaesthetic and Intensive Care Clinic, the in-patient wards of the Surgery Clinic, the Orthopaedic and Traumatology Clinic, and the Neurosurgery Clinic, and the burnt-out roof.

Plans also include building treatment rooms for the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Reception and Department offering immediate emergency and urgent care services.

A non-negligible effect of the works will be an improvement in the clinical building's energy efficiency through the insulation of its outer shell, including through a green roof offering vegetation cover in selected parts of the roof.

After being taken over for refurbishment by a contractor, the Central Military Hospital site was visited today by Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď along with Hospital Director Assoc Prof Róbert Rusnák MD PhD.

Speaking about improved patient and staff environment and the reconstruction process, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “I am extremely pleased that despite the great misfortune, we remain on track to deliver better quality conditions for our highly qualified medical professionals and patients alike. Reconstruction works to the fire-damaged hospital wing are currently underway. Once the works are completed, we want to upgrade another section of the Surgical Pavilion building.” He thanked everyone for their work going into reconstructing and upgrading the hospital pavilion.

Director of the Central Military Hospital - Teaching Hospital Ružomberok Assoc Prof Róbert Rusnák MD PhD said: “Without mutual communication and an understanding of the needs of this facility, without the “ears” that listen to us, and without the willingness of the minister and that of the entire Defence Department, this project would never have happened. So, this is a milestone for our patients and, of course, for our hospital staff as well. I believe we will succeed in providing our patients with the kind of environment they deserve.”

Funding for the complex refurbishment works to the hospital's fire-damaged pavilion has come from several sources. In October, the Central Military Hospital - Teaching Hospital Ružomberok received a €17.6m non-repayable financial contribution and almost €2.4m worth of investment from the MOD as the hospital's founding authority. In addition, it has also secured funding from private donors – Lockheed Martin Corporation, the manufacturer of the Slovak Air Force F-16s, ECO-INVESTMENT JSC, including its Ružomberok-based branch Mondi SCP, Aliter Technologies JSC, and Košice-based LYNX Ltd.

Due to the refurbishment works, the workplaces in the hospital's eastern wing have been moved to available replacement spaces – patients can find more information by visiting the hospital's website at www.uvn.sk.