The Šumperk Hospital will demolish the former sanatorium and build a sports facility

Šumperk - The owner of the Šumperk hospital will demolish the building of the former lung sanatorium, which has been deteriorating and has poor structural integrity for more than two decades without any use. A new sports complex for the public with a guesthouse and restaurant will be built on the site of the sanatorium, said today CTK spokeswoman for Šumperk Hospital Hana Szotkowská. The planned investment amount has not been disclosed.

According to Szotkowská, the former sanatorium has compromised structural integrity, enormous holes in the roof, and pieces of plaster are falling off the walls. "According to expert assessments, it is in such a state of emergency that it cannot be remodeled. There is no choice but to demolish the former lung sanatorium," Szotkowská stated.

Šumperk Hospital wants to build a multi-purpose playground, tennis courts, a sports hall, a children's playground, outdoor and indoor fitness, wellness, a guesthouse, and a restaurant in place of the sanatorium in the next two years. The project also includes the enhancement of the park and surrounding area.

"When we considered how to deal with the deteriorating area, we tried partially to take its past into account," emphasized the hospital's lead project manager Pavel Hanke, who noted that originally the place served as a hydrotherapy institute where people came to relax. "In addition to a large dining room with a glass veranda, there were various lounges, a resting area, sunbathing facilities, a gymnastics hall, or a bowling alley," he added.

The former sanatorium was built in Šumperk in 1899 according to the design of Šumperk architect Heinrich Popp. The author of the park layout is Zdenek Engelbert, who also came from Šumperk. "The sanatorium originally had a Swiss architectural character, but this was lost during numerous renovations and repairs. Because of this, the sanatorium never made it onto the list of rare monuments," the spokeswoman noted.

The building originally served as a hydrotherapy institute and in the 20th century, it treated children with pulmonary diseases, most commonly tuberculosis. Most recently, the building housed psychiatry, internal medicine, and other outpatient facilities. "Since the early 90s, the property has been empty and deteriorating. In 1995, it was acquired by the Šumperk hospital as part of privatized property," Szotkowská explained.

Since last March, the Šumperk hospital has been owned by Martin Polach, who acquired it from the Agel group and immediately began massive investments in its modernization. Last year, for example, the construction of a new pavilion with magnetic resonance imaging and a mammography facility began, which will cost about 160 million Czech crowns, including equipment.

The change of ownership of the Šumperk hospital is related to an earlier transaction in which Polach sold his quarter stake in Agel to billionaire Tomáš Chrenek, and in exchange, Chrenek assigned this hospital to him in the spring, which was part of the Agel healthcare group. The Šumperk hospital provides healthcare for approximately 200,000 residents annually.