"SVETI ARHIĐAKON STEFAN - 9. JANUAR" HOSPITAL SET TO OPEN AS A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY

BANJA LUKA, DECEMBER 24 /SRNA/ - The new hospital in Trebinje, scheduled to open on January 5, is a modern and functional facility that meets the latest standards for the provision of healthcare services and, by decision of the Government of Republika Srpska, will bear the name "Sveti Arhiđakon Stefan – 9. januar" /St. Archdeacon Stephen - January 9/ Public Healthcare Institution, Assistant Minister for Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska Milan Latinović told SRNA.

Latinović said that the new Trebinje hospital consists of a technical building and a central building housing the emergency unit.

"The central building was designed functionally, with an emergency unit that meets all prerequisites for providing high-quality healthcare services, diagnostics, and other medical services, regardless of the type of emergency," Latinović said in an interview with SRNA.

He emphasized that the outpatient wing within the central building is an important segment where daily diagnostics and interventional procedures will be carried out.

"This area also houses a new department - an interventional cardiology laboratory. These are new services that citizens will be able to receive at this hospital. Acute myocardial infarctions will be treated here, lives will be saved, and disability among cardiovascular patients will be reduced," Latinović pointed out.

He noted that this part of the building also contains the full diagnostic capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging, CT, mammography, X-ray, and ultrasound equipment.

"Of particular importance is the central section of the building, which houses state-of-the-art operating rooms equipped with modern medical equipment, as well as modern intensive care and semi-intensive care units, a maternity ward, an operating room for cesarean sections, and a neonatology unit," Latinović said.

He stressed that the hospital is equipped with the most advanced medical equipment from leading global manufacturers.

"This guarantees that the equipment will fully meet the needs of citizens of Trebinje and the wider region," Latinović said.

According to him, the hospital was built on an area of 40,000 square meters, with the building itself covering 17,800 square meters.

"Infrastructure has also been completed, including internal access roads within the hospital complex, approximately 480 parking spaces, as well as full infrastructure related to lighting, surface water drainage, sewage, and other facilities," Latinović pointed out.

He reminded that the process of building the new Trebinje hospital began back in 2007, when an analysis of the hospital sector in Republika Srpska was conducted as part of healthcare system reform efforts.

"First, a new hospital was built in Bijeljina, followed by new sections of the University Clinical Center of Republika Srpska, as well as new hospitals in Nevesinje, Istočno Sarajevo, and Doboj. Now we are opening the new hospital in Trebinje. This represents continuity in planned reform activities aimed at improving conditions for hospital-based healthcare services," Latinović noted.

He added that reconstruction and expansion of hospitals in Prijedor and Gradiška are planned next.

"This is a continuous process led by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Through this experience, we have reached a point where we are able to participate with our own capacities in the planning and construction of the new Trebinje hospital. This is the first hospital that has been fully built using domestic resources and experience - from conceptual design and project documentation to contractors and financing by the Government of Republika Srpska," Latinović pointed out.