In the past year, a worldwide pandemic has completely changed life as we know it, not only in Croatia but throughout the world. Other than healthcare, we are facing numerous economic consequences that have already begun manifesting in almost every economic branch. But, before it focuses on saving the economy, mankind faces the challenge of preserving its own health. COVID-19 is no ordinary virus, and its effects were felt even by those who had been denying its existence. Even though it turned out a great enigma for experts, it seems a way to halt its spread is on the horizon in the near future.
Investments in health infrastructure as a priority
It is precisely the spread, or, more accurately the speed of the infection that poses the greatest issue. What differentiates this Coronavirus from the others is the fact that it is filing up hospitals all over the world faster than any other disease. The greatest issue faced by healthcare workers is the lack of capacity to admit all infected patients. It's obvious now that healthcare facilities are the first line of defense in such unpredictable situations and how important they are for people. Healthcare facilities and their functioning are a feature and an indicator of progress in all modern, organized systems. There are over 160 thousand hospitals throughout the world and the Gondisapur Hospital, founded in 300 AD in today's Iran, is considered the first teaching hospital. How much the world has advanced since is best shown by the fact that the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, which has a capacity of over 10 000 beds and spreads over 271,727 square meters is currently considered the world's largest hospital. History teaches us that even in a time of crisis infrastructure investments have a huge positive domino effect on the economy because they include many different industries. This is exactly why, here at Institut IGH, we are proud to be a part of numerous projects involving the construction of health infrastructure throughout Croatia.
The largest public purpose project in the history of Bjelovar
The construction of the Bjelovar General Hospital is one of the largest investment projects of this kind in Croatia. The construction works, worth HRK 272 million, are well underway and approximately 200 workers, 90 of which fitters are on site every day. The construction is slowly coming to an end, crafts and fitting works are being done extensively (for example around 300 m2 of ceramics and around 300-500 m2 of glazed tiles are being placed daily) and construction of the facade has also begun. IGH has been awarded a contract and is providing expert supervision of all works (construction and crafts works, structural works, foundation pit protection, water supply and drainage, electricity and mechanical engineering works) and 6 supervising engineers have been hired. Once completed, the hospital will be able to admit 130 thousand patients over a surface area of 18.500 m2. IGH is providing supervision of construction works on the outpatient clinic building, outpatient surgery building and the ER building. The new Bjelovar General Hospital building will enable all surgical activities to be unified, provide a modern, new day hospital and greatly improve treatment conditions. This is the largest public project in the history of Bjelovar-Bilogora County and the city of Bjelovar, which will make the citizens getting their medical treatment here particularly happy. All of them had a say in the hospital's exterior appearance where they could choose between three facade colours.
Institut IGH supports the education of medical experts
With its quality of service, modern and comprehensive approach, IGH has been ensuring the satisfaction of its clients, employees and partners on both national and international markets for over half a century. Today, when medical staff is in demand more than ever, the construction of a new school to train new generations of medical experts takes on a whole new meaning. One such project is the construction of a new nursing vocational high school in Pula. The works are well underway, and Institut IGH is providing supervision of this, over HRK 43 million worth project funded by the Istria County. Due to its position and foundation soil, the school was constructed on piles. It will have a below ground level a ground floor and two upper floors. The school can take in 400 students per shift, while its total surface area will be 2,450 m2. Two auxiliary rooms, two specialized rooms and a student club will be situated at below ground level while public, commercial and multi-purpose areas such as kitchen, dining hall, offices, teacher's lounge and a library will be on the ground floor. Specialized classrooms for different subjects and individual lesson planning and supply storage areas will be situated on both floors. The area around the school will also be properly landscaped, with respect to basic functional features of the landscape and using indigenous plant species. The landscaped areas on the plot cover approximately 35% of the building plot, which is more than the set 20%. The works are valued somewhat over HRK 54 million, VAT included, and the completion deadline is planned for the spring of 2021. Greater value than the works themselves is the investment in future medical experts who will be given a chance to work in many modern Croatian hospitals.
The Vukovar Hospital as a project of special importance
The Vukovar Hospital is a place of special piety and memory and its renewal is a responsible task. When it comes to the Vukovar health infrastructure, Institut IGH is providing supervision and consulting services during the construction of two buildings. The first is a facility aimed at providing physical therapy, the works on which started back at the end of 2015. Unfortunately, only 80% of the facility was completed due to the contractor going bankrupt. If everything goes according to plan, the new contractor should soon sign a contract that will enable the continuation of works at the beginning of 2021. The second building will be constructed in order to improve the feasibility and use of daycare centres and surgical procedures in the Vukovar General County Hospital and the Croatian War Veteran Hospital. The works began in 2017 and IGH reviewed the design documents prepared the BoQ for the tender procedure where a contractor was selected to complete the works. IGH is currently also acting as consultant to the investor regarding the project funding. Works are expected to be completed by May 2021.
Institut IGH's donation for the Rijeka Medical Centre
Giving back to the community you work in is not just corporate social responsibility, but responsibility - period. Institut IGH believes that the best way in which it can help the communities in which it operates is by donating its knowledge and services. An example of this can be found in Rijeka, where Podpinjol Park, part of the Rijeka Medical Centre was recently open to the public. It is an area where patients, their families and other visitors can stop and relax. In order to take this break from everyday life and everything that goes on within the hospital walls, Institut IGH gave up its fee for supervision services. But, our experts take part in the construction itself. As the leading partner of a Consortium of Contractors, near the end of August of 2019, IGH signed a contract for supervision of construction works of several buildings in Sušak with the Rijeka Medical Centre, namely a children's hospital, a gynecology and obstetrics clinic, a thermal power unit, and an open, multi-level parking area. The supervision works are worth HRK 7, 98 million, VAT exclusive and are expected to be completed within 33 months, while the entire construction project is worth around HRK 640 million, VAT exclusive. The constructed facilities will significantly contribute to the improvement of the region's hospital healthcare system and enable the concentration of hospital activities in one place with the aim of improving healthcare quality and level of conduct.
