Fostul Spital I. C. Brătianu

The first hospital in the city of Buzău was opened in 1792, at that time occupying the third position among the hospitals in Muntenia, after the medical units in Bucharest: Colțea, founded in 1702, and Pantelimon, opened in 1750. In 1870, the County Hospital was created, which, after only two years, was moved to another space, in the buildings known as the Persescu houses.

On June 27, 1888, the hospital benefited from an important donation from Eftimie Tomaide. In 1890, another significant contribution came from Costache Ciochinescu, who allocated income obtained from the Blăjani estate to cover the expenses related to two hospital beds. According to the donor's wish, a plaque with this inscription was to be placed at the head of each bed, as well as a portrait of him, made by the painter Gheorghe Tattarescu. In 1895, the Buzău Prefecture began construction work on a new headquarters for the County Hospital, which was inaugurated on April 14, 1896, under the name "Ion C. Brătianu" Hospital, with a capacity of 30 beds.

During Romania's participation in the War of National Integration, fought between 1916 and 1919, the hospital was transformed into a military health unit. After the end of the conflict, on June 4, 1920, it returned to the city and was intended for the care of surgical, ophthalmological diseases and childbirth. On June 6, 1924, a new operating room was inaugurated, named after magistrate C. A. Papadopol — the initiator of this project and also responsible for the modernization of the medical institution, introducing electric lighting, modern operating tables and sterilization equipment. In 1935, the hospital was renovated, a floor was added to the central part of the building and a steam heating system was installed. A year later, in 1936, a special pavilion was erected for the radiology and electrotherapy service, a service previously established in 1929, also at the initiative of C. A. Papadopol.

During World War II, on July 3, 1941, a Soviet air raid led to the fall of an incendiary bomb in the courtyard of the Brătianu Surgical Hospital. Fortunately, it did not explode. Starting in 1973, with the opening of the current County Hospital, located near the Crâng Forest, the old building located on Nicolae Bălcescu Boulevard took over part of the departments of the new hospital, continuing its medical activity until the early 2000s.

After a period of abandonment, the hospital building entered a visible state of degradation, a situation that became increasingly concerning for the community. The local authorities, aware of the historical importance of the building and its cultural potential, decided to intervene, developing a project to restore and transform it into a museum center, necessary for the city of Buzău. The restoration, conservation and modernization plan was conceived by architect Georgeta Gabrea and was initiated in 2019, at the proposal of the Buzău County Council. The project was included in the Regional Operational Program 2014-2020 and benefited from co-financing from the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund. The restoration works were completed in August 2022, and the building is to be given to the administration of the Buzău County Museum, to host exhibitions and cultural activities dedicated to the community.

Sursa: buzauopen.ro