Dvorak Blames Sasko for Not Yet Presenting Medical Plan of National Hospital

Bratislava, 2 July (TASR) - Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) hasn't yet presented a medical plan for a new national university hospital in Bratislava's borough of Vajnory, although he was supposed to do so by 30 June, deputy chairman of the parliamentary health committee Oskar Dvorak (Progressive Slovakia/PS) pointed out on Wednesday, calling on Sasko to present the plan to the public along with a financial plan and a construction schedule. Dvorak also asked Sasko to consult the plans with the opposition, as the construction of the hospital will involve several electoral terms. "Almost three months have passed since the health minister grandly unveiled his vision for a new hospital in Bratislava. However, to this day, neither the public nor the opposition know the basic details of this €1.2 billion project," pointed out Dvorak at a press conference, adding that even after Wednesday's cabinet meeting, the public hasn't learnt anything new about the new hospital. According to the MP, the medical plan should contain key information about the equipment of the new hospital, what specialties and departments it will contain, how many beds and operating theatres will be available and what number of medical and other staff will be needed. The new General Milan Rastislav Stefanik National University Hospital is to be built in Vajnory on land owned by the Defence Ministry. The project is to be financed through the Recovery and Resilience Plan, 2 percent of defence spending, and to a lesser extent, from the public budget. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year. am/mcs