Recalling his earlier agreements with Andor Grósz, President of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz), Prime Minister Orbán said the renovation of the Szeretetkórház fulfills the first of three commitments. “The first agreement has been fulfilled with the renovation of this hospital, and the others — such as the refurbishment of the National Rabbinical Seminary — will follow in due course,” he stated.
“We are in the middle of a complete, nationwide healthcare reconstruction,” the prime minister said, noting that 91 hospitals, 54 outpatient clinics, and 107 ambulance stations have already been renovated. In Budapest alone, 13 hospitals have seen development.
Turning to the significance of faith-based institutions, PM Orbán said, “The Jewish hospital is especially close to my heart because I have found that where religious institutions provide care, a special quality emerges.” He added that Budapest now has hospitals operated by the Catholic, Reformed, and Jewish communities, all of which offer high-quality medical services.
President Grósz said the complete renovation of the hospital was made possible with approximately HUF 8.5 billion in government funding. The institution, he noted, serves not only members of the Jewish community but the broader Hungarian public as well.
He highlighted the hospital’s leading role in chronic and musculoskeletal care and hospice services, noting that it houses the country’s largest hospice department. An active care unit has also been established, with full funding secured, and specialist and outpatient care will be expanded further. Andor Grósz expressed gratitude to both the government and the broader community — Jewish and non-Jewish — for their support and thanked the hospital’s staff for their work as well.
Reflecting on the historical significance of Szeretetkórház, Prime Minister Orbán noted that three Jewish hospitals once operated in Budapest: Two were nationalized, and one was burned down by the Arrow Cross. Only the Szeretetkórház in Zugló has returned to the Jewish community. “The primary cause of the destruction was the war and all the evil that war brings out of people,” he said, stressing the importance of peace.
“It is very important that we remind ourselves today: War is a bad thing, and peace is a good thing,” PM Orbán said. “It is good if a peaceful life prevails not only in Hungary but also in its neighborhood.”
Responding to questions, the prime minister said Hungary’s foreign policy must aim to serve peace, acting within its means. “That is not insignificant — but we should not indulge in the illusion that we can settle conflicts between countries far larger than ourselves. However, we will do what we can.”
He added that, when it comes to peace efforts, it is sometimes easier to make progress with the United States and Russia than within “our real home” — the European Union. Noting that many more support peace on the sidelines than during open negotiations, he added that “a large pro-war majority must be convinced to stand on the side of peace.”
The prime minister also said he counts on the support of the organized Jewish community at the European level in his work in Brussels.
Regarding the Visegrád Four, he said he is awaiting the formal appointment of Andrej Babiš as Czech prime minister. “As soon as that happens, I will convene a V4 summit,” he said.
“Hungary holds the presidency of the V4, but it is currently a paralyzed structure because opinions have been split two-against-two on strategic issues, he said, adding that when Andrej Babiš is officially sworn in, “the V4 can be revived at the level of prime ministers, and I very much hope this will allow us to meet with the Polish president as well.”