- by croatiaweek
- October 26, 2025
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in
News
(Photo: Ministarstvo zdravstva)
Croatia is set to move forward with one of its most important healthcare projects in decades, the construction of the country’s first National Children’s Hospital.
The long-awaited facility, planned for the Blato district of Zagreb, will bring together paediatric services currently spread across several hospitals and provide comprehensive, modern care for children of all ages.
A formal agreement has now been signed between the Ministry of Health and representatives of the construction consortium Kamgrad d.o.o., marking the official start of the project.
The first phase of construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2029, with a total investment of €237 million.
Health Minister Irena Hrstić emphasised the importance of the moment, describing it as “a key step towards realising a vision that has been planned for more than a decade and is now becoming reality.”
“This project demonstrates what can be achieved through joint effort and interdepartmental cooperation,” Hrstić said, noting that the hospital’s construction is one of the Government’s strategic priorities and a personal commitment of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. “Croatia will gain a modern, functional and technologically advanced medical complex that will bring together all paediatric services under one roof.”
The new National Children’s Hospital will become Croatia’s leading paediatric institution, offering state-of-the-art facilities and expertise. Phase 1 includes the reconstruction of an existing technical block and the construction of a new 53,040 m² building.
This facility will unite general paediatrics, paediatric surgery and paediatric oncology currently operated by the Children’s Hospital Zagreb.
The first phase also covers the preparation of detailed architectural and engineering plans, as well as amendments to the building permit, with construction and completion scheduled by the end of 2029.
Located in Zagreb, at the crossroads of Croatia’s main transport routes – the hospital will ensure accessibility for patients from all parts of the country. This is particularly significant as nearly one-third of patients treated at the current Children’s Hospital Zagreb come from outside the capital region.
Importantly, the new National Children’s Hospital will be Croatia’s first “carbon-zero” hospital, and among the first of its kind in the European Union – a symbol of modern, efficient and environmentally responsible public healthcare.
Domagoj Kamenski, CEO and Management Board member of KAMGRAD d.o.o., representing the consortium of contractors, said the project holds deep meaning for all involved.
“For us, this is not just a construction project, it carries emotion, responsibility and profound significance,” Kamenski said. “Our task is to design and build a hospital that is functional, modern and technologically advanced, but above all – humane and centred around people.”
He added that the project will be implemented using the design & build model, ensuring high coordination between design and construction, faster delivery, and greater efficiency.
(Photo: Ministarstvo zdravstva)
The realisation of the National Children’s Hospital project is the result of years of expert collaboration between Ministry of Health staff, planners and partners. It stands as a landmark in the Government’s long-term policy of modernising Croatia’s public healthcare system.
Since 2016, the Government has invested over €2.6 billion beyond the regular health budget to improve healthcare services and infrastructure across the country.
