Central Military Hospital Ružomberok is ready to respond in case of a coronavirus epidemic outbreak in Slovakia

The Central Military Hospital Ružomberok, including the SVK Armed Forces-operated ROLE 2 Field Hospital, is ready to promptly respond in case of a coronavirus epidemic outbreak in Slovakia. After visiting the military hospital, this announcement was made today by Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš, Hospital Deputy Director Col Roman Jantoš MMedSci, Deputy Chairman of the SVK MOD Crisis Staff Ján Hoľko, in the presence of Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini.

Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš said: “The capabilities of the field hospital are currently limited, because it is designed for a theatre of operations in the event of war and the state of war, with primary focus on surgical interventions. Yet we are ready to adapt this hospital so as to cope with such emergency and the Training Centre Lešť, Záhorie Training Area, and our Kuchyňa and Sliač Air Bases will be made available as well.”

As Deputy Director of the Central Military Hospital Ružomberok Col Roman Jantoš MMedSci pointed out, the hospital is ready to admit the patients suspected of contracting a variety of infections. “The hospital is ready to admit such patients. Currently, we have 25 beds at the infectious diseases department and the pulmonary diseases ward, which allow patients to be quarantined for a whole year round. Another six patients can be put in quarantine at the field hospital,” he said.

Prime Minister and Health Minister Peter Pellegrini said: “In case we need to deal with dozens or hundreds of [coronavirus-infected] patients who need to be placed in quarantine, we are ready to deploy a field hospital on Lešť and Záhorie Training Areas, whereas Lešť Training Area offers additional accommodation facilities.” He went on to stress that the armed forces are ready to set up a hermetically controlled site for up to 2,000 people, if required.

The SVK Armed Forces currently have approx. 500 medical professionals. The field hospital for 40 + 30 beds can be deployed within 3 days, if needed.