Varaždin General Hospital Opens €45 Million Medical Complex

Varaždin General Hospital has officially opened its new Central Operating Block, a state-of-the-art medical complex that combines operating theatres, intensive care units, advanced diagnostic facilities and a rooftop helipad. 

The project, valued at €45 million, covers more than 11,000 square metres and represents one of the largest healthcare investments in Croatia in recent years.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, hospital director Damir Poljak said the true value of the project lies not in the building itself, but in the benefits it will bring to patients and healthcare professionals.

"The greatest value of this investment is not the walls, equipment or technology. The greatest value is the people - our patients, who will receive better, safer and more accessible healthcare, and our healthcare workers, who will now have working conditions worthy of modern medicine," Poljak said.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Tomislav Dulibić described the facility as a project of national importance. He noted that it is not only the largest healthcare investment in Varaždin County, but also the largest individual healthcare project financed through Croatia's National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Alongside investments in infrastructure, officials highlighted efforts to strengthen healthcare staffing. Varaždin County Prefect Anđelko Stričak said 260 specialist training positions have been secured over a five-year period to support the long-term development of the healthcare system.

"In order to ensure the continuity and development of healthcare, special attention is being paid to medical personnel. By constructing this building, we have secured the necessary space and equipment for those specialists, while the 260 specializations represent a major investment in people," Stričak said.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said the new complex would significantly improve healthcare services for around 300,000 residents of northern Croatia who rely on Varaždin for medical treatment. He emphasized that the facility's integrated design and modern infrastructure, including a helipad for emergency medical transport, would improve both patient care and working conditions for medical staff.

Plenković also pointed out that Croatia was among the European Union member states that received the highest level of support relative to its size through post-pandemic recovery funding, enabling major investments in public infrastructure, including healthcare.