Activists Raise Funds for Neonatal Unit Renovation in Košice, Decry State Neglect of Hospitals

A group of activists successfully raised money in 2024 to fund the renovation of a neonatal unit at a hospital in Košice, Slovakia's second-largest city — a task they argue should be the responsibility of the state. The women behind the fundraising effort expressed frustration at being forced to step in where government funding has fallen short, particularly for basic equipment such as air conditioning units in hospital wards. Despite their anger at the situation, the activists acknowledged they felt compelled to act, warning that if they did not raise the funds privately, the hospital's neonatal department would go without climate control systems. The case highlights a broader tension in Slovakia over chronic underfunding of public healthcare infrastructure, with civil society increasingly filling gaps left by state institutions.