Prague healthcare reform: Babiš plans hospital reorganization and equipment upgrades

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is initiating a major reform of the healthcare system in Prague, focusing on both medical equipment modernization and structural reorganization. Currently, Prague hospitals hold approximately one-fifth of the country's expensive diagnostic equipment, but these devices are among the oldest in the Czech Republic. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch noted that Prague's status as a wealthy region often prevents its facilities from accessing certain European Union subsidy programs, causing them to lag behind regional hospitals in cities like Plzeň or Olomouc.

A central component of the reform is the planned construction of a 'super-hospital' at the Královské Vinohrady Hospital site. This project involves a capacity study to determine which services will remain at existing facilities, such as Bulovka and Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice, and which will be relocated to the new complex. The government aims to approve the project before Christmas.

The proposal has faced criticism from opposition politicians, who argue that the transformation is being driven by personal intuition rather than a clear strategic concept. Despite this, the administration is moving forward with plans to centralize specialized care and upgrade technical equipment across the capital's medical institutions.