Prague will complete the architectural competition for the headquarters of the rescuers this year

Prague - The Prague City Hall plans to complete the architectural competition for the new headquarters of emergency medical services (ZZS) this year, which is to be built next to the Prosek Polyclinic in Prague 9. The city also plans further investments in the emergency service. In an interview with ČTK, the new Deputy Mayor for Social Affairs and Healthcare, Alexandra Udženija (ODS), stated this. The new headquarters is expected to be finished by 2030; currently, the paramedics are based in Korunní Street, in a building they share with the municipal police.

According to Udženija, 19 participants have registered for the competition, from which the jury will choose those advancing to the second round on March 24 and 25. "The plan is that by the end of the year, the competition should be completed," the deputy said, adding that subsequently the winner of the competition will prepare the project documentation for the construction.

The new building on the land next to the Prosek Polyclinic will house the dispatch center, a training center for paramedics, administrative facilities, and equipment for servicing and washing ambulances. The previous city administration wanted to place the ZZS in a long-standing unfinished building in Palmovka, which was originally intended to be the Prague 8 town hall. However, this plan fell through due to complications with the completion. Before that, the city hall considered plots in Troja, but there was opposition from the local town hall.

According to the deputy, the City Hall also plans to reconstruct the paramedic base Míčánka in Prague 10 and also intends to build a new base in the area of the fire station building constructed two years ago on Argentinská Street in Prague 7. Paramedics are also purchasing new vehicles. "The delivery of new ambulances is expected to take place from May this year to August," Udženija said. According to her, the cost of the contract is 121 million crowns.

In healthcare, the Prague City Hall is also responsible for emergency services, where, according to the deputy, there is a problem particularly with dental services for children. For instance, the dental emergency service was recently closed by the Motol Hospital. The city polyclinic on Spálená Street has launched a trial operation of its own emergency service prioritizing pediatric patients, and the deputy is in talks with the director of Motol Hospital, Miloslav Ludvík. At the beginning of April, she wants to present a final solution on how to address the shortage of dental emergency services in the metropolis.

Udženija added that she considers the current setup of the healthcare system in Prague to be sufficient and does not plan, for example, to push for the establishment of a city hospital, which has been discussed in the past. "There is no need for Prague to have any grand plans or build any ostentatious hospitals. I believe Prague should invest more in social services, where it has an irreplaceable role," she said.

The previous city administration wanted to transfer the Na Františku Hospital, managed by Prague 1, under the city, but this was eventually scrapped after the leadership change in the first municipal district. Udženija stated that she plans to collaborate with Prague 1 on the development of the hospital and does not consider the transfer to the city necessary. She also does not see the continuation of the healthcare consortium project, which was supposed to ensure central purchasing, negotiations with insurers, and other services for Prague's healthcare and social organizations according to the plans of former councilor Milena Johnová (Prague Sobě), as a priority.