Penta Hospitals and Agel Agree on Sale of Railway Hospital in Kosice

Kosice, April 3 (TASR) - The railway hospital in Kosice will be taken over from Penta Hospitals Slovensko by the Agel health-care network, the two sides announced on Thursday, adding that they've agreed not to disclose the value of the transaction. "The entire transaction is still subject to approval by the Slovak Anti-monopoly Office. The final takeover is expected in 2025," said Penta Hospitals Slovensko spokesman Tomas Kral and Agel deputy spokeswoman Jarmila Sevcikova. The agreement on the takeover of the hospital was confirmed by Agel Slovensko board chairman Michal Pisoja. "Our goal is to continue to provide quality health care, to invest in modernising the hospital and to create optimal conditions for patients and employees. We believe that our experience and professional background will contribute to the further development of this hospital and its services for the inhabitants of Kosice and the wider area," he said. Agel is thus expanding its network in Kosice, where it already runs a hospital in the borough of Saca. Penta Hospitals Slovensko head Radoslav Cuha also commented on the sale. "The decision on the sale was made with regard to the strategy of our network as well as the future of the Kosice site and its employees. We're constantly taking steps in order to be as prepared and resilient as possible to the changes that developments in the health-care sector bring," he stated. Last year, an agreement was reached between Penta Hospitals and state-owned rail-infrastructure operator ZSR for the purchase of the premises of the Kosice railway hospital. ZSR offered the premises with real estate for sale as unneeded property. According to the published contract, Penta Hospitals acquired it for €11.3 million, ex-VAT. The government approved the sale in November. am/df