Banská Bystrica prepares for a major transformation as its top-ranked hospital is to gain university status

Although health analysts welcome the move, they warn that attracting enough doctors and other staff could prove challenging.

The F. D. Roosevelt Faculty Hospital in Banská Bystrica is regarded as one of the best hospitals in Slovakia. Since the Institute for Economic and Social Reforms (INEKO) began publishing its hospital rankings in 2015, it has consistently placed in the top three, with the sole exception of the first edition of the ranking.

The hospital also treated Prime Minister Robert Fico after he was shot more than two years ago.

Now, his government has approved the transformation of the faculty hospital into a university hospital. According to the prime minister, the goal is primarily to increase the number of doctors in central Slovakia while achieving a better regional distribution of medical education facilities.

Traditionally, a university hospital is considered the highest level of healthcare facility and is associated with a medical faculty. Although a faculty hospital also provides training for healthcare professionals, this is primarily at lower levels, such as nursing.