Agel wants to build a new hospital in Malešice, Prague

Prague - The Agel company, which operates healthcare facilities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, wants to build a new hospital in the eastern part of Prague. It has already purchased land for it. The investment is expected to exceed one billion crowns. Agel's spokesperson Radka Miloševská informed ČTK about this today. Agel is currently working on the project. When asked when the hospital is expected to start operating, the spokesperson stated that "in a matter of a few years".

Building a greenfield hospital is not common in the Czech Republic; according to Agel, the last time this happened was more than 30 years ago. "Our intention is not to build competition for existing hospital facilities. On the contrary, our implementation team is preparing projects according to which the new hospital will complement the existing network of teaching hospitals," said Agel's CEO Milan Leckéši. He did not specify which specialties Agel plans to complement the hospital network in the metropolis. Agel currently operates two polyclinics in the capital.

The nearest facility to the Malešice area, where the hospital is to be built, is likely the Faculty Hospital Královské Vinohrady, which offers a wide range of healthcare services. The spokesperson later added that the land is located near Malešický Park. It is approximately three kilometers from there to the Vinohrady hospital.

There are six large hospitals in Prague that are established by the Ministry of Health, as well as a military hospital, the Hospital Na Františku, which belongs to Prague 1, and the Hospital of the Sisters of Mercy of Saint Charles Borromeo. Some private facilities and clinics also have inpatient departments.

The Agel Group is the largest private healthcare provider in Central Europe. In addition to the Czech Republic, the group has also been operating in Slovakia since 2006. The group employs nearly 11,000 people. In the Czech Republic, it operates 11 hospitals, as well as polyclinics, a network of pharmacies, laboratories, distribution companies, and other specialized healthcare facilities. In 2015, the group had a consolidated pre-tax profit of 740.8 million crowns. In 2014, it was 630.4 million crowns.