This Monday, June 30, 2025, a ceremony was held to mark the completion of the works on the adaptation and equipping of the new Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation at the Special Hospital for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation "Martin Horvat" Rovinj-Rovigno, which represents another step in returning the Institution to its roots.
Namely, the Special Hospital for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation "Martin Horvat" Rovinj-Rovigno, as a pavilion-type hospital, was founded in the period from 1886 to 1888 as a climatic sea health resort primarily with the aim of treating and rehabilitating children suffering from scrofula and rickets.
In the beginning of its history, children from Austria-Hungary were treated, then from Germany, Russia and other neighboring countries. Since 1892, due to the needs of treatment, its activities have expanded to the field of orthopedics. Since 1954, it has become a Hospital for the Treatment of Bone and Joint Tuberculosis, and since 1971, due to the needs of further treatment, it has become a Hospital for Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation.
At the end of 2020, at the initiative of the parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, the Hospital began conducting outpatient habilitation of neurorisk children and children with developmental disabilities who are included in the so-called Early interventions in the then newly renovated Sensory Room as part of the "Early Intervention Team for Children with Neuro-Risk Difficulties" Project, financed by the County of Istria, which covered the needs of a large number of young families from the entire Republic of Croatia.
In addition to the aforementioned Early Intervention Project Team, the hospital also employs a multidisciplinary Early Intervention Team consisting of a pediatrician, pediatric physiatrist, pediatric orthopedist, speech therapist, psychologist, educational rehabilitator, occupational therapist and physiotherapist, i.e. all the necessary staff who will provide adequate healthcare in the new Pediatric Rehabilitation Department.
The fact that the project of opening the Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation is of exceptional importance is also supported by the fact that in 2024 alone, almost 9,000 services were performed at the Hospital in various forms of examination/monitoring or therapy for children.
With the start of work of the new Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation, it will be ensured that all our youngest patients with neuro-risk and developmental disabilities receive all necessary specific health services from birth until the age of eighteen in a fully dedicated polyclinic area located on the ground floor of the building and covering a total net area of 395 m2, which, in addition to the reception office, breastfeeding room and sanitary facilities, also consists of eight outpatient clinics and three therapy rooms.
On the first floor, there is a stationary section with 26 beds for children and their parents, and it covers a total net area of 459.16 m2, which, in addition to the nurse's room, outpatient clinic, sanitary facilities and other auxiliary rooms, consists of ten multipurpose patient rooms with five bathrooms, a playroom (living room) and a kitchen for patients.
The entire basement area of the new Department for Children's Rehabilitation, with a total net area of 581.24 m2, consists of nine multi-purpose halls for children's physical therapy and other auxiliary rooms.
This event is of historical significance for all citizens of the Republic of Croatia, and especially for the citizens of the Istrian County, as well as for the Special Hospital for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation "Martin Horvat" Rovinj-Rovigno itself.
Let us remind you that, united by a unique common interest and intention to cooperate in the realization of the Project, all Istrian cities and municipalities, along with the Istrian County, participated in the financing of the Project, at the initiative of the Istrian County Prefect Boris Miletić. The value of the Project is EUR 4.3 million.
The ceremony was graced by the arrival of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Irena Hrstić, the Prefect of the Istrian County, Boris Miletić, the Deputy Prefect Gordana Antić, the Bishop of Poreč and Pula, Mons. Ivan Štironja, the Director of the Croatian Health Employers' Association, Dražen Jurković, the mayors and heads of Istrian cities and municipalities, and other numerous partners, donors and friends of the Hospital, because this Institution has 137 years of uninterrupted legacy that inspires and obliges it to further development and progress.
