Spor o stavbu nové polikliniky v Chebu pokračuje, příprava také

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Cheb – The dispute over the construction of a new polyclinic in Cheb continues. The association of Cheb healthcare workers opposes the plan, and even the last tripartite meeting of the association, city management, and the investor did not bring any progress. Preparations for the construction are still ongoing, and the decisive word will belong to the Cheb city council, CTK found out.

"The association is convinced that the construction of a new polyclinic in Cheb is unnecessary, impractical, and will not bring the promised benefits to the city. The association supported its claims with specific arguments and verifiable facts. On the other hand, the investor insisted during the negotiations on their hard-to-believe promises and did not specify any facts that could be verified," described the outcome of the negotiations with the investor and the mayor of the city, Antonín Jalovec (VPM), Barbora Zahradníková, who represents the Association of Cheb Healthcare Workers.

Jakub Pánik, who represents the investor's plan, which is supposed to be Chebská zdravotní s. r. o., confirmed to CTK that the joint meeting did not advance the dispute. "I believe that we will meet again in the near future, as we have not yet found common ground where the association would believe our supporting materials and what we want, namely to bring in new healthcare workers," Pánik told CTK.

The investor wants to commit that the project will not lead to poaching healthcare workers from existing practices or the Cheb hospital. However, the association does not believe this. "You cannot influence the free will of healthcare workers. There is a shortage of workforce, and it is a very tough battle for it. The association and the leadership of the Cheb hospital are very concerned that the implementation of the project will only lead to a reshuffling of healthcare workers, and not an increase in their numbers," stated the association in its position.

The Cheb hospital also has concerns about the impacts of the new polyclinic's establishment, which could lead to losing some outpatient services and thus revenue. However, the investor also rejects this, stating that they primarily want to bring new services.

There is also a dispute regarding the investor's promises to secure contracts for the new practices from health insurance companies. According to the association, insurance companies consider healthcare services in Cheb to be saturated, and new contracts will therefore not be possible to obtain.

As stated by the mayor of Cheb, Antonín Jalovec, in this regard, it is a business risk for the investor. "From the meeting, it emerged that the city management will continue, but we want to utilize the expertise of the association when contracts with the investor are potentially signed to help us formulate the commitments of both parties," Jalovec told CTK.

According to Pánik, the entire project of the polyclinic and the parking garage in front of the Cheb train station is conceived with an eye toward the future. "Cheb has the potential to develop; it has ambitions to grow. It will be necessary to ensure quality healthcare for the residents. We want to bring in new healthcare workers," Pánik emphasized.

However, the Association of Cheb Healthcare Workers does not believe the promises. "The association strongly warns against this dubious project and advises the city council not to support it. The promised benefits will certainly not be delivered by the project," stated Zahradníková.