The new unit in Celje was inaugurated by Health Minister Milojka Kolar Celarc, while the Novo mesto unit was launched by State Secretary Nina Pirnat.

The construction of the Celje unit cost EUR 12.6m, of which EUR 5.3m came from EU funds. The unit covering 1,500 square metres includes a paediatric emergency care centre.

The centre will start operating on 30 December and will employ an additional 50 staff.

Almost EUR 4.2m in EU funds was meanwhile secured for the Novo mesto unit, with EUR 740,000 contributed by the state. The 4,000 square metre unit cost a total of EUR 7.2m.

According to Mira Retelj, the director of the Novo mesto general hospital, the unit will open its doors to patients on 29 December.

The opening of the national network was supposed to be concluded by the end of the year, but the last new emergency ward, in the coastal town of Izola, is expected to be launched only in February 2016.