by InTrieste
Plans for a new pediatric hospital in Trieste are moving forward, with regional officials announcing an expansion of the project and reaffirming their commitment to its completion. The revised design for the new Burlo Garofolo hospital at the Cattinara complex will include an additional 5,000 square meters—an increase of 22 percent compared to initial projections. Officials estimate the facility will be completed within the first half of 2030, with a final cost of 74 million euros.
The announcement was made on Tuesday during a hearing before the III Commission of the Regional Council, where Riccardo Riccardi, the Regional Councillor for Health, Social Policies, and Disability, discussed the project alongside Francesca Tosolini, General Director of the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, and Antonio Poggiana, General Director of the Giuliano Isontina University Health Authority (Asugi). The hearing focused on the status of the new hospital, which is intended to serve not only Trieste but also the broader Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
Regional officials traced the project’s evolution to a key decision to terminate the original contract with the company initially awarded the construction work, citing just cause. Riccardi noted that since then, the administration has navigated challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising material costs while ensuring continuity of care at the existing facility.
“The project we have today is the result of a decision we made as a regional administration, in partnership with Asugi,” Riccardi said. “We have been able to move forward while continuing to provide medical services in the same structure where the work is taking place.”
The expansion will accommodate additional services, including gynecology and pediatric dental care. The new facility will also feature single-occupancy patient rooms, allowing families to remain close to their hospitalized children.
Riccardi emphasized that the project aligns with a broader vision of integrating the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo’s expertise into the region’s healthcare network, aiming to reduce the need for patients to seek treatment outside Friuli Venezia Giulia. “This is not a matter of preference or ambition,” he said, “but about overcoming barriers that have led some professionals to direct patients to out-of-region facilities, despite the excellence of Burlo.”
The project’s completion remains on track for the first half of 2030, pending no further delays. Regional health officials and project leaders continue to coordinate efforts to ensure the hospital’s development progresses as planned.
