Shortcomings in the project documentation delay the construction of the new maternity ward at FN Brno

Brno - The commencement of construction for the new Clinic of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Neonatology at the University Hospital in Brno is being delayed. The hospital management found significant deficiencies in the project documentation during a review. The analysis revealed risks that would lead to a significant increase in construction costs, said the hospital director Vlastimil Vajdák to reporters. According to him, the hospital will take additional measures to ensure the construction of the maternity hospital starts as soon as possible.

The construction of the maternity hospital was supposed to begin at the start of this year. However, the start was postponed initially due to the cancellation of the procurement procedure for the contractor. Last autumn, due to the high bid price that exceeded the expected costs, the hospital adjusted the conditions and issued the procurement process again. The signing of the contract with the contractor was then delayed due to proceedings at the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS). The company Airten challenged the procurement process at the antitrust office, which stated that it was in order. The company then filed a complaint, which was rejected by ÚOHS in March of this year.

The new building, which will rise on the hospital grounds over 30 months, will serve approximately one-third as a maternity hospital, with other parts designated for the needs of the gynecology and neonatology departments. The building's capacity will not exceed the current capacities of both gynecology-obstetrics facilities at FN Brno, which will move into it upon completion. The total construction costs are expected to exceed three billion crowns, with the hospital planning to allocate 1.5 billion from its own resources for the construction of the pavilion and counting on a two billion state subsidy.