A €129 million investment to reshape the future of Brotzu Hospital and Sardinia's healthcare system. The expansion project for the Cagliari ARNAS hospital was presented this morning, which includes the construction of a new technological hub designed to enhance surgical activity and highly specialized care.
"We've gone from €90 million to over €120 million," explained Regional President and interim Health Councilor Alessandra Todde. "This is a crucial project because it will restore Brotzu's modernity, accessibility, and highly specialized healthcare services. It demonstrates that good projects must be continued, regardless of who initiated them."
The project will involve the construction of a new seven-story building that will integrate with the existing facility. Arnas General Director Maurizio Marcias emphasized that the new facility will allow surgical operations to be concentrated in a single block and will strengthen the hospital's response capacity.
"The technological hub will solve many problems," he said. "It will allow for a single operating theater and a 20-bed trauma center. It will facilitate the clinical-surgical pathway, internal medicine, and post-operative intensive care. The project is expected to be completed in about three years, and once it's finished, the residents will be happy with the result."
According to Marcias, the construction site shouldn't cause any significant disruption to healthcare services. "We'll try to minimize any inconvenience. Significant investments are needed because technological innovation is essential to providing ever-improving patient care."
Cagliari Mayor Massimo Zedda also spoke, noting that the project was unanimously approved by the City Council. "The 17,000 square meters added to the facility will require greater accessibility. Improvements will also be needed to the outdoor areas and parking. Next year, the project is expected to go out to tender, and it will take several years to complete. This is an achievement after decades of a stalled project."
During the conference, Todde also addressed the healthcare workforce shortage. "We need around 300 doctors and 1,500 nurses. Today, the system is holding up thanks to professionals working on the verge of burnout." The president announced new measures to strengthen emergency rooms during the summer months through financial incentives for doctors and healthcare workers.