Co přinesou pacientům miliardové investice do největší nefakultní nemocnice v Česku?
44 POSITIV 1/2026
ZDRAVOTNICTVÍ
What Will Billion-Crown Investments
What were the main reasons behind these
large-scale hospital renovations,
which cover such a long time frame?
I would venture to say that the current plans are among
the most significant in the entire long history of Ostrava
City Hospital. Of course, various modernisation works
have taken place there fairly regularly in the past as
well, but the present scale of the ongoing investments
is exceptionally broad. We want to bring together
healthcare operations that are currently separated,
significantly improve the overall level of comfort
for both patients and staff, and, last but not least, make
the hospital’s management more efficient.
An important role in the whole process is also being
played by investments in cutting-edge modern
technologies and specialised departments. It is
an unusually extensive process. Its scale and scope are
also reflected in the financial aspect. The estimated
costs run into the billions of crowns. We are currently
negotiating to secure multi-source funding, primarily
from the state and the region.
Where will patients notice the modernisation
the most?
There have of course been many modernisation projects,
but the very first thing that comes to mind is the new
Centre for Hyperbaric Medicine, the heart of which
is, naturally, the hyperbaric chamber. This pressurised
facility, used to treat many illnesses and injuries, was
brought into operation in March 2024. It replaced the old
chamber dating back to 1965. In the whole of the Czech
Republic, there are only 13 such hyperbaric chambers.
As Ostrava City Hospital, we are in fact the only provider
of this healthcare service for the whole of Moravia, as
well as the Vysočina region.
Our ultra-modern hyperbaric chamber therefore
provides round-the-clock service for a catchment
area of around 4.5 million inhabitants. Unlike
the decommissioned chamber – nicknamed
the “submarine” because of its cylindrical shape –
the current one already resembles a standard room. It can
accommodate 18 patients and is far more user-friendly
for both patients and staff than that former “submarine”.
New Departments, faster diagnostics – What exactly
will patients gain?
Among the major investment projects already completed,
I would certainly mention the modernisation of the key
E2 pavilion, carried out between 2022 and 2024. Thanks
to this, several essential departments have gained
new premises fully suited to their needs. Specifically,
these include the Department of Anaesthesiology
and Resuscitation, the Surgical Department, the Surgical
Intensive Care Unit, and the inpatient section
of the Internal Medicine Department.
The hospital’s MRI scanner can now examine
incomparably more patients. How is that possible?
We have equipped the Department of Radiology
and Imaging Methods in Pavilion F2 with a second
brand-new MRI scanner. At present, it ranks among
the most advanced machines currently available
in healthcare. It offers highly detailed, high-resolution
imaging, but above all it significantly shortens waiting
times and enables much faster diagnostics. Patients will
Monika ŠevčíkováJiří Zerzoň, Lukáš Kaboň