The representatives extended the plan for the construction of the new Zlín hospital until 2040

Zlín – The representatives of the Zlín Region today approved the extension of the investment plan for the hospital in Zlín-Malenovice until 2040. According to Governor Radim Holiš (ANO), it is not realistic for the region to have the funds for the construction of the hospital in the next ten years. From the initially announced cost of eight billion, the amount has risen to 15 billion, Holiš told the representatives. He stated that the extension of the plan would allow the region to use the funds allocated for the construction of the new hospital for other projects in regional hospitals, especially in Zlín. The region will also avoid a looming fine for the improper use of the land that was purchased in Malenovice by the previous regional leadership under then-Governor Jiří Čunek (KDU-ČSL) for the planned hospital.

The new regional leadership has previously criticized the project advocated by Čunek. The regional council has already canceled the public procurement for the hospital's designer but has not yet canceled the investment plan for the new hospital. They discussed what to do with the land. The sellers in Malenovice had a condition that the region would use it for the construction of the hospital. The Unimex Group has set a fine for breaching the condition at ten million crowns. By extending the investment plan, the region should avoid the fine.

The land is in the middle of the area where the hospital was supposed to be built. According to the governor, there is also a risk in case of contract violation that the region would have to return the land to the owner, which would divide the area. The conditions under which the former regional leadership concluded the contract were, according to Holiš, disadvantageous for the region. He stated that the negotiations with representatives of the Unimex Group did not succeed in changing the conditions, so the current solution is not to cancel the plan but to postpone it in time. "We are in a very disadvantageous situation; we must act cautiously to keep the area intact," he said. Further discussions will be held with the company. Unimex Group's response is being sought by ČTK.

Holiš stated that the costs have risen due to the higher price per cubic meter of construction, and building materials have also become more expensive. According to Deputy Governor David Vychytil (ANO), there are also lower budget revenues and higher expenses due to COVID-19. If construction were to proceed, the region's debt would increase, and funding for other investments would be lacking. According to Holiš, the aim of the region is not to favor one hospital at the expense of all sectors in the region.

The region wants to use the money originally prepared for the hospital construction for other projects, totaling 2.7 billion crowns. Construction of a new central building is planned at the Zlín hospital, which will include a new internal medicine department and emergency room. The region is expected to contribute about 2.3 billion crowns to the project. The procurement process for the public tender for the designer of the new central building has already been initiated.

Opposition representatives stated today that the regional leadership does not want to build a hospital in Malenovice, but is not addressing what will happen with the current area of the Zlín hospital, preparing only the central building there. "I don't know what the council wants to do on the site. I only know about internal medicine; what else will be there, I don't know," said Petr Gazdík (STAN). According to Čunek, it must be stated how much everything will cost and also how much money the region will lose if care must be limited due to construction work. He lacks a coherent plan and considers the current regional leadership to be at a loss. "Before they plan any reconstruction (in the Zlín hospital), I believe that this coalition will come to an end. I am convinced that we will find out that a new hospital is the optimal solution. I still believe in that," Čunek told reporters.

The representatives approved the hospital construction in the previous electoral period, the region purchased land for it, and prepared a contract with the winner of the public procurement for the designer, which Čunek did not sign. The region bought the land from the owners at a uniform price of 1650 crowns per square meter. The region agreed with the owners on the sale of nearly fifty plots and paid 230 million crowns for them.

Representatives of the ANO movement, which was in coalition with the Christian Democrats in the previous electoral period, were also against the construction, as well as some representatives of the coalition ODS. On the contrary, several opposition representatives voted in favor of the project at that time. The new hospital was a main topic in the regional elections, and the members of the new coalition consisting of the winning ANO, Pirates, ODS, and ČSSD were united in their opposition to it.