Croatian Health Infrastructure to Be Modernized

The European Investment Bank (Luxemburg) will provide EUR 40 million fund to help Croatia improve health infrastructure in the country.

The fund will be used to finance the reconstruction, extension, and rehabilitation of the General Hospital Pula (Croatia) on the Istrian peninsula. The project includes rehabilitation of existing facilities in a total area of 14.000 m² and construction of an additional 27.400 m². The total value of investment is EUR 36.5 million, not including medical equipment. The process will include enhanced hospital services by consolidating currently dispersed units onto a single site in a more integrated and cost-efficient manner.

Under the project, modern standards will be applied to the medical services, avoiding operational shortcomings and excessive maintenance costs. Under the terms of the fund, the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR; Zagreb, Croatia) is the borrower, while Pula General Hospital is the final beneficiary of the EIB loan. The Prime Minister of Croatia Zoran Milanovic and Minister of health Sinisa Varga ceremonially opened the construction site on January 23, 2015. The project is expected to be completed by 2018.

“EIB’s loan will contribute to the implementation of the Croatian Government priorities in the health sector. Higher quality and better effectiveness of health care services will improve the living standards of the people living in Istria and visiting it as tourists,” said Dario Scannapieco, vice-president of the EIB. “This will help to increase the competitiveness of this region, attract qualified medical personnel and secure existing employment.”

“New investments, strengthened competitiveness, and increased employment are HBOR’s priorities, and the Pula General Hospital project unites all of them,” said Martina Jus, managing board member of HBOR. “Construction of the new hospital facilities is a capital investment of special local interest and I am particularly pleased that the successful and long-lasting cooperation between EIB and HBOR has continued through this important project.”

Related Links:
European Investment Bank
General Hospital Pula
Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development