GHOST HOSPITAL IN BUDAPEST

The semi-finished institution of the Hungarian Army has cost HUF 3 billion for ten years.

The finishing of the reconstruction of the army hospital has been put off again. The emergency department will be ready in May, 2006 but the complete building will open only in 2007 in spite of the earlier promises of the government. So far almost HUF 3 billion has been spent from the central budget to guard and maintain the ghost hospital. A recent government decision modified the deadline of the reconstruction from May 31, 2006 to April 30, 2007, and an additional HUF 18 billion is necessary to finish the work. The Medgyessy government promised in 2002 to complete the reconstruction in this government cycle and informed sources claimed the hospital would serve the purposes of a V.I.P. hospital, too. László Svéd, head of the health department of the army said the delay had been caused by an investment tender without any results and the result of the new public acquisition tender would be announced on September 14. Mr Svéd confirmed the army hospital will be completed only in the next government cycle, along with the necessary infrastructural development of the area.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó