ZithaKlinik plans ahead for 2020

(CS) An eight-year project estimated at 80 million euros will see significant refurbishment and construction on the city centre clinic, including a new building on the rue d'Anvers and a thorough modernisation.

The project, presented on Monday, is spread across three phases. Between 2012 and 2013 a construction site in the rue d'Anvers will be cleared and several hospital facilities, such as the dialysis ward, endoscopy, two operating theatres and the helipad, will be moved.

In a second step a new building will be constructed in the rue d'Anvers. The construction should be completed by 2018. The final two years of the refurbishment will be dedicated to the modernisation of the other existing building blocks.

The project currently runs at a budget of 80 million euros.

The ZithaKlinik will remain open and continue running its services, posing a particular challenge to the project. The hospital saw over 8,900 patients in care units in 2010 plus 8,948 patients in the day hospital. Over 7,000 operations were carried out in 2010.

The main goals of the project are better patient care and comfort, the modernisation of the medical and technical equipment, and a forward-looking hospital infrastructure.

The ZithaKlinik has been in operation since the First World War when it was a military hospital. It has been used as a general hospital since 1925 and now counts over 760 employees and 108 approved medical specialists.

In 2010 the hospital's revenue amounted to 82,356,000 euros.