Construction of hospital annex for the elderly begins in Vilnius

All inpatient palliative care services provided in the Lithuanian capital will be concentrated in one institution

Burying a symbolic capsule with a letter to future generations on the construction site of the extension of Mykolas Marcinkevičius Hospital, the Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius gave the go-ahead on Tuesday to one of the city’s most anticipated projects.

Upon completion of the new hospital building, located on Kauno str. 7 in the Naujamiestis (New Town) district, all inpatient palliative care services provided in the Lithuanian capital will be concentrated in one institution. It will be able to provide assistance to terminally ill patients with modern resuscitation equipment and clinical laboratories, reports the municipal website.

In line with a tendency common for most developed countries, the number of people over 60-70 years of age is increasing in Vilnius City Municipality. So, there is a growing need for inpatient palliative care, supportive treatment and nursing care which Mykolas Marcinkevičius Hospital is expected to gratify.  

Sprawling over an area of 1784 sq.m, the new annex will have 87 beds, including 10 resuscitation and intensive care beds. EUR 400 000 have been allocated from the municipal budget for the construction of the annex which is planned to open doors in 2022.

Blending into the environment

"This project is an important contribution to the health of Vilnius residents. When we talk every day about the health, well-being and care of the elderly, the construction of a hospital dedicated to their needs is particularly important. The development of the hospital will give the New Town a distinctive face, blend into the environment and keep the district varied and dynamic,” said Šimašius, who buried the capsule together with Mykolas Marcinkevičius Hospital director Rimvydas Turčinskas.