Slovak hospitals to install 250 air‑conditioning units as heatwave hits

Health Minister Kamila Šaš​ko announced that Slovakia will fund the installation of roughly 250 air‑conditioning units in hospitals, targeting intensive‑care wards, operating theatres and pharmacy rooms. The Investment Commission approved the financing after criticism of the ministry’s earlier comments on missing cooling amid a severe heatwave that pushed ward temperatures above 42 °C.

In parallel, citizens have responded with a public fundraising campaign on Donio that has collected over €27,600 for the purchase of air‑conditioning equipment. A family‑run firm also installed special insulating window films imported from Luxembourg in the Ružinov hospital, cutting interior temperatures by 6‑9 °C. The combined public and governmental actions aim to mitigate the impact of the heatwave on patients and staff across Slovak hospitals.