The Central Bohemian Region wants to invest 1.5 billion in its hospitals

Prague - The Central Bohemia region plans to invest 1.5 billion crowns in repairs and new construction in its hospitals over the next three years. This was decided by regional councilors today. One fifth of the investments could be covered by the European Union, 20 to 30 percent from the regional budget, and the rest, which is the majority, from loans. This was announced to journalists by Governor David Rath (ČSSD).
    For example, in Mladá Boleslav, the internal medicine pavilion will be completed, along with a building with facilities, a dining room, and a kitchen. "This complex of two buildings, connected by an underground parking facility, is expected to cost approximately half a billion," Rath stated.
    In Benešov, according to him, an extension of new operating rooms will be built for nearly 100 million crowns, and a new transfusion and hematology station will be established for 25 million. Other relatively large investments are planned in Kolín, where one of the existing pavilions will be renovated with EU funds. This will be an investment of around 300 million crowns. An additional 230 million will be spent by the region on the construction of a children's pavilion.
    Reconstruction of two old pavilions in Příbram is also planned, each costing 200 million crowns. The first investment is also being prepared in the Kutná Hora hospital, which was recently taken under its management. According to Rath, 2.5 million crowns will be allocated for the hospital pharmacy.
    Investments are planned from this year until 2013. The largest financial burden is expected next year, when most of the intended projects should be financed.
    The region and individual hospitals have also borrowed in the past for renovations and extensions in Central Bohemian hospitals. Thanks to the loans, the regional authority also covers the deficit between revenues and expenditures of the regional budget. This year it operates with revenues of 15.22 billion and expenditures of 15.78 billion crowns. The budget also includes 80 million for covering fees in regional hospitals and 210 million for free student transportation. The opposition ODS criticizes the region's management, considering the costs of the Social Democrats' pre-election promises to be a waste of money. Governor David Rath (ČSSD) counters that the region went into debt during the ODS government.