Gov't approves tender for national mental health institute

Prague, Jan 9 (CTK) - A public tender for the construction of a Czech National Institute of Mental Health that is to cost approximately half a billion crowns will be declared, the cabinet decided Wednesday, supporting the plans worked out by the Education Ministry.

Such an extensive public tender must be approved by the government.

The construction costs are to be covered from the EU funds and the institute is to be seated in Klecany near Prague. The building is to be completed in June 2014.

This is yet another case of a huge research centre to be built just beyond the boundaries of the capital city. As Prague is a rich area, money for this project could not be drawn from the EU funds if the institute had its seat within the city limits.

The National Institute of Mental Health is to be both a clinic and a neuroscience research facility. According to the plan, the institute is to have three wards with 55 beds, three day care and outpatients' centres, biochemical laboratories, research departments and teaching areas.

The Prague Psychiatric Centre is to move to the institute in Klecany.

Cyril Hoeschl, the centre's head, pointed out last year that the construction project was delayed for nearly two years due to personnel changes at the Education Ministry.