Regional councilors canceled the investment plan for the construction of a new hospital in Zlín

Zlín - The abolition of the investment plan for the new regional Baťa hospital was approved today by the representatives of the Zlín Region. 26 out of 40 voting representatives supported it. This was a formal termination of the plan that was advocated by former governor Jiří Čunek (KDU-ČSL). He wanted to build a new regional hospital in Zlín-Malenovice.

The new leadership of the region, under the leadership of governor Radim Holiš (ANO), postponed the project. Two years ago, regional representatives approved the extension of the investment plan until 2040, which they have now cancelled. The regional government is preparing a reconstruction and completion of the T. Bata Regional Hospital (KNTB) in Zlín in the current grounds. Building a new hospital in Malenovice would jeopardize the development of the Zlín Region and paralyze it economically, stated Holiš.

"It is absolutely unrealistic to focus on one big project that would consume all available funds. We have to take care of all regional property, which means other hospitals, schools, roads, cultural institutions, and other property in the area of public administration,” the governor stated. Since 2020, the prices of building materials, energy, and other costs have also risen, which would influence the final cost of the new hospital. "Building a new hospital in Malenovice would endanger the development of the Zlín Region and completely paralyze it economically. That is unacceptable,” Holiš commented.

According to Holiš, the cancellation of the investment plan for the new hospital will enable new use of the zone in Malenovice. In the future, there could also be a healthcare facility there. "We must prepare for the unfavorable demographic development of the Zlín Region, namely the fact that strong age cohorts will gradually age, and in this regard, we cannot just focus on building a new hospital,” Holiš noted. He told the representatives that a debate is starting about what will be in the Malenovice zone.

Čunek today called on representatives to leave the decision on terminating the investment plan for the new hospital to the next leadership of the region. "It does not prevent us from planning what will be there. We can make a plan, but we do not have to cancel this matter. When we present what should be there, it may help make a better decision about the cancellation of the investment plan,” Čunek said.

The announced costs for the new hospital in Malenovice were eight billion crowns. According to Čunek and other members of his party, the new hospital would already have rough construction and would be cheaper than the reconstruction of the current hospital grounds. "Repairing the old hospital was so complicated and serious, and there were so many issues, that it turned out to be worth it to build a new hospital,” Čunek stated. According to representative Vojtěch Volf (KDU-ČSL), the KNTB area is outdated, making large investments there infeasible.

However, according to Holiš, the new hospital would be more expensive, and immediate investments would be necessary in KNTB. The regional government is preparing the completion of KNTB. The plan includes the construction of a maternity ward for 1.1 billion crowns, which should begin at the end of next year. Three years later, the construction of a new central emergency medicine pavilion, expected to cost about four billion crowns, should start, taking three years to build. Together with other investments and renovations, the development of the hospital is estimated to cost six billion crowns in the coming years.