Foundation stone laid for the new Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions in Ljubljana
Foundation stone laid for the new Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions in Ljubljana | Author STA/Boštjan Podlogar
On this occasion, Minister of Health Valentina Prevolnik Rupel said: "It is with great pleasure that we laid the foundation stone for the new infectious diseases clinic today. This is an important step towards more accessible and higher-quality healthcare, as modern infrastructure provides better working conditions and safer patient care in accordance with the highest standards."
The construction of a new building for the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions at the University Medical Centre (UKC) Ljubljana is one of the key projects in the field of healthcare in Slovenia. New emergency rooms with diagnostics and therapy, specialist clinics, a 24-hour hospital, intensive and semi-intensive care units, a children's ward and a ward for highly contagious diseases will be set up. A modern operating theatre and additional rooms for support services will also be established as part of the new building.
In his address, Prime Minister Golob emphasised that healthcare remains the Government's top priority. "The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the vulnerability of our society to new global challenges. The facility for which we are laying the foundation stone today will serve as the basis for building the resilience of our entire society in the future," he stated.
The construction works will include building, finishing and installation works, the supply and installation of built-in medical and technological equipment and the implementation of external landscaping, taking into account environmental aspects. Sustainability is also an important focus in construction. The new facility will be designed to eliminate the need for major investment maintenance in the long term and to minimise the need for and costs of ongoing maintenance and operation. This will ensure both the financial and environmental efficiency of the new building throughout its entire life cycle.
"The new infectious diseases clinic is not just an EU investment in the building itself – it is also an investment in a more resilient European Union that is better prepared for the future," said Jerneja Jug Jerše, Head of the European Commission Representation in Slovenia.
The Director General of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Marko Jug, emphasised that with the construction of the new infectious diseases clinic, Slovenia will get the most modern hospital designed for the treatment of the most seriously ill and most contagious patients, with 200 beds and state-of-the-art isolation facilities found only in a handful of centres in Europe.
Construction of the first phase of the new infectious diseases clinic at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, covering a gross area of 24,800 square metres, began in April 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2027. It will be co-financed by EU funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan in the amount of EUR 55 million. Immediately after completion of the first phase, construction of the second phase will begin, with the entire project expected to be completed by 2030. The total project value is EUR 225 million.
