University of Szeged Opens New Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit

As part of a Romania–Hungary cross-border healthcare development project, the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center has established a new Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit within its Department of Pediatrics. The state-of-the-art facility, which welcomed its first patients on July 2, 2026, was created through close multidisciplinary collaboration and will significantly strengthen pediatric healthcare services across the region, particularly in the treatment of infectious respiratory diseases.

The new Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit at the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center was officially inaugurated on June 30, 2026.

Photo Gallery: István Sahin-Tóth

Realizing a long-held vision

At the official inauguration ceremony on June 30, 2026, Prof. Dr. Csaba Bereczki, Director of the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Health Care Center, said that the new unit had brought to fruition a vision more than thirteen years in the making.

“For the first time, all of our services are housed under one roof. Until now, the Infectious Diseases Unit operated in a separate building and patients had to be transported between facilities. From now on, every child arriving through our single-entry emergency department will receive comprehensive care in the same building. This not only enhances patient comfort but also marks a major step forward in patient safety,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Csaba Bereczki. He also added that the University of Szeged’s Department of Pediatrics is the first pediatric clinic in Hungary to implement a patient monitoring system across nearly all of its inpatient units, enabling healthcare professionals to detect early signs of deterioration in a child’s condition.

“My hope is that by 2029, when the Department of Pediatrics celebrates its 100th anniversary, the remaining planned developments will also have been completed, allowing us to welcome patients and staff into a fully renewed, 21st-century facility built on 100 years of excellence,” Prof. Dr. Csaba Bereczki noted.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Prof. Dr. Anikó Nagy, Director General and Chief Medical Officer of the Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute in Budapest; Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged; and Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of the University of Szeged.

“The University of Szeged’s Department of Pediatrics has implemented one of the most advanced patient monitoring systems available,” said Prof. Dr. Csaba Bereczki. Photo: István Sahin-Tóth

Shaping standards of care

The new unit features eight separate patient rooms, each with a private en-suite bathroom, providing care for up to 15 children at a time. Combined with an innovative model of care, the modern infrastructure ensures that young patients with respiratory infections receive safe, high-quality treatment in a state-of-the-art environment.

Speaking at the inauguration, Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged, emphasized the broader significance of the investment. “University clinics differ from county hospitals in that this is where we develop the protocols that later shape patient care practices across the country,” he said. “At the University of Szeged, we have built a team capable of identifying challenges, developing effective strategies, and seeing them through to successful implementation.”

Drawing on his experience as an otolaryngologist who has worked closely with the Department of Pediatrics for decades, the rector reflected on the remarkable transformation he has witnessed over the past 15 to 20 years. While the department’s specialists have long provided outstanding care, he noted that the new infrastructure now enables them to deliver world-class pediatric healthcare in an environment that matches their professional excellence.

Step-by-step progress

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of the University of Szeged, emphasized the University’s sustained efforts to secure funding for strategic development projects in recent years. She noted that the continuous modernization of SZTE’s healthcare, education, and research infrastructure has been driven both by the successful achievement of institutional performance targets and by the effective use of available funding opportunities.

Prof. Dr. Csaba Bereczki receives the symbolic key to the new Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit from Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged, and Dr. Judit Fendler, Chancellor of the University of Szeged. Photo: István Sahin-Tóth

“The University also secured funding for the complete renovation of the Department of Pediatrics, but due to limited financial resources the project could not be carried out in its entirety. Instead, the department has been modernized step by step through a series of carefully planned developments. Today, only a few major projects remain. Preparations are already underway for the renovation of the pediatric oncohematology and pediatric intensive care units, following the successful renewal of the child psychiatry unit, the pediatric emergency department, the surgical suite, and most recently, the ambulance entrance. The final major milestone will be the exterior renovation of the historic Klebelsberg building,” said Dr. Judit Fendler.

The Chancellor concluded by thanking everyone whose dedication and collaboration made the establishment of the new Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit possible, emphasizing that each completed project brings the University of Szeged closer to its vision of providing children with world-class care in a modern, integrated healthcare environment.

Original Hungarian article by Imre Vida-Szűcs

Photo: István Sahin-Tóth