Česky
Owner Sotirios Zavalianis wants to completely change the functioning of Czech psychiatry with a building worth more than a billion. "A unique project not only in the country, but also in the region of Central Europe," is how the Czech entrepreneur of Greek origin, whose portfolio within AKESO Holding also includes medical facilities in Hořovice, Pardubice and Prague, describes the planned Mental Health Centre.
What sounds like strong words, however, may be a real step forward in the approach to the treatment of mental and civilisation diseases. In addition to the usual means of treatment, the building also provides a wide range of additional services for clients to help them alleviate the symptoms and causes of their adverse life situation.
In the building they will find a swimming pool, a gym, a fitness room and a theatre for 280 people. The project also includes facilities for occupational therapy, phototherapy, music therapy and counselling in the areas of social, legal and economic issues.
"As a person in need, to be confined all day without any activity in just one room and occasionally visit the group therapy room is not ideal. Therefore, our project foresees a large number of possible activities because, as we know, activity reduces stress and positively influences how a person feels," says Zavalianis, who, among other things, is the owner of the construction company in charge of the building.
He is therefore his own contractor, which allows him to significantly influence the final shape of the project, which he has already managed to change several times during construction.
Another innovation, according to Zavalianis, would be the simulation of daylight during the cold days. The lack of natural light is a significant factor contributing to depression. The light intensity chosen should correspond to the natural phase of the day.
But even that is clearly not enough for Zavalianis. Therefore, a small vineyard will be created on the slope behind the building, which he wants to use to push the aesthetic aspect of the hospital a little further. However, Zavalianis himself did not come up with the idea, as he is not an alcohol drinker. He was inspired by a friend from Moravia, who could eventually produce the delicious drink from the local grapes.
All the rooms of the Mental Health Centre should maintain a high standard and a few of them will be apartments. Even so, the services of the centre should be available to all psychiatric patients, regardless of their financial background.
"With this project we would like to show that it is possible to do psychiatry at a high level even in Czech conditions. We want to be an example not only for the rest of the country, but for the whole of Europe," says Zavalianis, who together with his team went abroad for inspiration some time ago. But even there, he says, the situation is not ideal. "We prefer to go our own way and not just copy foreign models," he adds.
In terms of its focus, the department is supposed to relate mainly to cases that require acute, but not long-term care. The average length of stay should therefore be between two and four weeks - the range of illnesses treated, mainly neuroses and milder forms of psychosis, will correspond to this.
A large investment is also planned in the security of the entire building, on which AKESO is working with experts from Sweden. This will of course make the construction more expensive, as everything must be unbreakable and safe for the patients. "We will try to treat a wide range of diagnoses, but we do not expect to care for long-term patients. Our project is not geared for that," says the hospital owner.
"The whole concept was first developed in our company, of course only in rough outlines. But we are not experts and we had to consult and correct our original ideas with leading Czech experts," Zavalianis explains.
And he wants to cooperate with them in the future. The project, which has the ambition to become a centre of excellence for helping people with mental health problems, also wants to cooperate with crisis and community centres in the catchment area of the Central Bohemian Region and Prague.
Zavalianis said the mental illness segment has long been neglected and underfunded. A significant part of the population suffers from their various forms and there is not enough capacity for them. In the Czech Republic, for example, he said, there is a desperate shortage of child psychologists and psychiatrists.
"I hope that our facility will also become an inspiration for young people to become interested in studying psychiatry and psychology," says Zavalianis, who has personal experience with the psychiatry environment.
"I am a clear example that despite difficult times, great things can be achieved," concludes the owner of AKESO Holding.
The article was published on 26 February 2021 in Forbes magazine
Author of the article: Mikoláš Rec
Link: Zavalianis wants to transform Czech psychiatry for a billion
