For years, Lublin has held a key position on the map of major medical centres in Poland and has been the regional capital in terms of the concentration of medical and health-related institutions. This is due to a variety of factors, such as strong research and academic institutions, well-developed medical infrastructure, active cross-sector collaboration, and a highly qualified workforce of specialists. Universities in Lublin provide significant staffing potential for the healthcare sector, educating approximately 12,000 students annually in medical and health sciences (data from 2023).
The idea to establish the European Centre for Innovative Therapy of Macular Diseases arose from close collaboration with leading European ophthalmic institutions, including the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology in Lugano, which also has a satellite training centre in Lublin. Macular diseases are becoming an epidemic of our time, with the number of patients steadily increasing.
The Lublin-based Centre could become a key response to the challenges faced by healthcare systems in Europe, including in Poland. Our Centre presents a real opportunity for the development of advanced diagnostics – including telemedicine – and provides strong momentum for the continued education of doctors and greater access to innovative therapies. As confirmed by Professor Robert MacLaren during his recent visit to Lublin, the infrastructure and equipment at the new Centre meet global standards, enabling the provision of services at the highest level, said Professor Robert Rejdak, Head of the Department of General Ophthalmology at University Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Lublin and President of the Polish Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons (SCOP).
The Centre, scheduled to open in the final quarter of 2025, is being established in a restored palace located at 1 Chmielna Street, within the premises of University Clinical Hospital No. 1, which currently houses the Department of Ophthalmology. The launch of the Centre will contribute to improved access to macular disease treatments and create conditions for enhancing the quality of ambulatory and same-day ophthalmic care. The investment is valued at over 32 million PLN and includes extensive renovation, equipping of operating theatres and diagnostic laboratories, which will soon allow for a significant increase in the number of procedures performed. The funding for this investment comes from a special-purpose grant from the Ministry of Health and the hospital’s own resources.
The European Centre for Innovative Therapy of Macular Diseases will specialise in modern ophthalmic procedures and therapies for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and corneal diseases. In addition, it will house Lublin’s first cornea bank, enabling corneal transplant procedures. The international cooperation already undertaken by Lublin specialists with leading centres in Germany, Italy, and the USA will serve as a foundation for further development within the new Centre, significantly elevating the status and quality of the research conducted. This also represents an opportunity for the city to grow as a research and training hub.
Already, surgical workshops and training sessions are attended by doctors from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania, and the recent visit of Professor Robert MacLaren – a world-renowned ophthalmologist from the University of Oxford – who praised the potential of the Lublin centre, highlighted its unique combination of modern infrastructure, top-tier medical staff, and ambition for international scientific collaboration, further confirming Lublin’s readiness to play a key role on the European ophthalmology map, said Dr Beata Gawelska, Director of University Clinical Hospital No. 1.
