EUR 6.8 million React-EU grant for intermediate care department in Maribor increases total React-EU funding for a stronger Slovenian health sector to EUR 66 million

Ljubljana, 14 October 2021 – Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved EU funds for the project COVID19 – Provision of premises for Intermediate Care Department of University Medical Centre Maribor. The EUR 8.9 million project that will be implemented by the Ministry of Health will receive a substantial contribution from the European Regional Development Fund under the React-EU initiative, i.e. EUR 6.8 million. This year alone, Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has already approved EUR 66 million to help strengthen Slovenia's health sector.

As part of the project, the Ministry of Health intends to empty the building currently housing the Department of Pulmonary Diseases and redesign and equip the facility to accommodate the intermediate care department. The latter will provide services for admitted patients who require prolonged non-acute health care in order to facilitate the transition from hospital to home, health-related care provided to individuals who do not require the degree of care that hospitals provide and palliative care. The vision of the intermediate care department is to get on an equal footing with its European counterparts and to promote peer exchange through sharing of experience and best practice to meet the needs of both the patients and the staff. The intermediate care department will be designed and equipped in line with the latest standards boasting physiotherapy, rehabilitation and occupational therapy equipment. The intermediate care department will provide 56 beds for patients diagnosed with covid-19.

The Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has already approved EUR 66 million from the React-EU initiative to strengthen Slovenia’s health system; out of ten React-EU investments, five have been earmarked for building the resilience of our health sector. The investments from the React-EU have also been made into relocating the Department of Pulmonary Diseases to the premises of the University Medical Centre Maribor (EUR 3.6 million, February 2021), providing additional space for the Ljubljana intermediate care department (EUR 4.5 million, March 2021), setting up an IT-supported vaccination appointment scheduling system for primary-level facilities, (EUR 1.5 million, May 2021), and carrying out deep energy-saving renovation of the buildings of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana (EUR 50 million, June 2021). We are committed to pursuing the goal of leaving no part of the country unnoticed and no one behind, especially those who need health services.