Split’s fire-ridden neurosurgical department to reopen before the end of the year.
The Department of Neurosurgery, which burned in a fire about a month ago, will be ready to open its doors by Christmas, general manager of the Split Clinical Hospital Centre Kolja Poljak said during a visit to the hospital by health minister Siniša Varga. The Ministry allocated 500,000 kuna for the renovation works, with additional 50,000 kuna coming from the City of Split, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on October 22, 2015.
How much did the fire cost will be known very soon, after the insurance company makes the assessment of damage, Poljak said and added that a public tender has been announced for the renovation of regular patient area of the Neurosurgery Department, followed by a tender for the intensive care area.
While visiting the Split hospital, minister Varga talked out the benefits of the “72 Hours” initiative, which started in April and already covers 10 percent of all cancer patients. The initiative allows for just three days to pass from the first suspicion of disease to diagnosis and the start of treatment. Eduard Vrdoljak, chief of the Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, also expressed his satisfaction with the initiative, noting that early detection of cancer gives significantly better prognosis to patients, but is also psychologically important for them.
“What we want to achieve is for the 72 Hours initiative to include 20 percent of all patients next year. I also call on citizens to get involved in our other programs which offer free and quick exams. These are non-invasive exams that can save your life, but the turnout is just around 60 percent. We would like to raise it to a higher level of at least 70 percent of all patients”, Varga said.
Vrdoljak pointed out that the Split Oncology Department has achieved excellent results in the treatment of patients, and its work has been recognized by the Ministry of Health which has increased its payments by as much as 24 percent.
The results could even be better if Split were to get new CT and MRI equipment. Asked when the equipment will arrive in Split, minister Varga answered that it will happen quite soon. Since tenders have already been announced, it is not impossible that it might even happen by Christmas as well.
