Prime Minister Robert Golob: "The new Department of Infectious Diseases is a responsibility towards patients and healthcare professionals"

SLOVENIA, June 17 - The foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Robert Golob, Minister of Health Valentina Prevolnik Rupel, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Slovenia Jerneja Jug Jerše, and General Manager of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Assistant Professor, doctor Marko Jug.

In his address, the Prime Minister 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.

He also highlighted the importance of the Department of Gastroenterology that will operate in the new building: "I am pleased that we have succeeded in preparing investment documents for the intended activity in such a way that the new facility will house not only the Department of Infectious Diseases but also the Department of Gastroenterology. This department treats some of the most vulnerable patients, and it is essential to provide appropriate facilities and ensure safety for both staff and patients."

The Prime Minister thanked the management of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre for their professional cooperation in preparing the project, and the Ministry of Health for securing the missing funds. "This is an investment worth just over EUR 150 million. However, funding alone is never sufficient to achieve real resilience – we need knowledge, and we need people. In this project, we have succeeded in bringing all of that together," concluded the Prime Minister.

The Head of Representation of the European Commission in Slovenia, Jerneja Jug Jerše, emphasised that the project enhances Slovenia's preparedness for future health challenges. "Slovenia's Recovery and Resilience Plan has earmarked as much as EUR 225 million to healthcare," she noted. She added that the new Department of Infectious Diseases is an investment towards a more resilient and better prepared European Union. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, we applauded healthcare professionals to express our gratitude. That gratitude is now being realised in the form of a modern, safe and technologically advanced facility, providing staff with appropriate working conditions and patients with the healthcare level they deserve," said Jerneja Jug Jerše.

The General Manager of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Marko Jug, highlighted that the new clinic will add to Slovenia's modern healthcare facilities. "The construction of the new Department of Infectious Diseases and the new Department of Gastroenterology are part of a major project that will increase hospital bed capacity by 200. It will give us a state-of-the-art hospital that will serve all residents of Slovenia," he said.

Doctor Jug went on to say that the new department would provide care for the most seriously ill patients in the gastroenterology division, while the infectious diseases division will treat patients with the most serious contagious conditions, providing isolation facilities that few medical centres in Europe can offer. "We are therefore grateful to the entire team, the Minister and the Prime Minister for hearing our arguments. We believe that we are building a society based on the power of arguments, moving away from the one where the argument of power prevails," concluded doctor Jug.

The new Department of Infectious Diseases will play a key role in ensuring modern, safe and comprehensive treatment of infectious diseases and in strengthening the Slovenian healthcare system's readiness for any future epidemics. It is one of the key investments under Slovenia's Recovery and Resilience Plan, co-funded by the European Union – under the NextGenerationEU funding programme.