The new building of Bratislava's St. Michael's Hospital was ceremonially opened - with Prime Minister Robert Fico in attendance - on Cintorínska Street on Tuesday. The facility, which falls under the remit of the Interior Ministry, received its first patients as early as Monday after moving house. According to Fico, the facility should mainly cater to the general public, with only 10 percent of its capacity to be used by members of the armed forces, police officers and rescue units. At the same time, it's projected to provide health care to twice the number of patients treated until now.
The new building, whose foundation stone was laid in September 2013, cost €50 million excluding VAT. "It's the most state-of-the-art health-care facility we can think of, including with respect to cutting edge technologies", said the premier. Aside from 120 beds in 11 departments - with capacity possibly to be extended to 140 beds if need be - dozens of outpatient offices will provide health care to the public.
Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák didn't rule out an expansion of the hospital in the future in order to replace other facilities in Bratislava's Old Town - the now defunct hospital on Bezručova Street and the one on Mickiewiczova Street, which is housed in a dilapidated building. St. Michael's Hospital also has facilities in Bratislava's 'Patronka' area, where the Government is entertaining plans for a new university hospital.
