This morning, the European Investment Bank signed a lending agreement with the Sint-Lucas general hospital in Ghent, Belgium. The loan of EUR 50 million comes in support of a conversion plan to prepare the Sint-Lucas hospital for the future.
The hospital has prepared a master plan which consists of a number of necessary investments, including a new wing for day-hospital activities, the reconversion of a loft for administrative purposes, a new area for rehabilitation services as well as adapting an existing wing of the hospital for geriatric departments.
EIB Vice-President Pim van Ballekom said of the operation: “The European Investment Bank has a clear societal function, as shown by the support it has given for Belgian projects concerning drinking water and energy. A less well-known side of this is the financing that the Bank has made available to Belgian hospitals and university campuses over the years; over EUR 1.4 billion since 2010. The EIB is there for the healthcare sector and this will certainly not be the last hospital we support.”
Niko Gobbin, Managing Director of the hospital, added: “The Sint-Lucas hospital continues to invest in reliable care for our patients. Apart from the high-quality care that our doctors and nursing staff provide, modern infrastructure also contributes towards this. The EIB’s support allows us to continue on this path, even in the face of financial cuts by the authorities.”
The total costs of the masterplan will amount to EUR 112 million. Works will start early next year and will be carried out gradually, so as to allow the hospital to remain fully operational all the time. The last works will be completed by the year 2021.
Photographer: EIB ©To be defined
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