Semmelweis University’s patient care is carried out on the highest level and it has several departments treating patients in critical condition. Cutting-edge technology enables the establishment of the most accurate diagnosis, like in the case of organ transplantations and certain procedures are available only at the university.
Patient care at the university is an integral part of the education of medical and healthcare professionals, which is acknowledged worldwide.
Since its foundation in 1769, Semmelweis University has paid special attention to the continuous development and expansion of its healthcare services. As a result, the university has grown into one of the largest healthcare institutions in Hungary. The University has over 40 departments distributed among the 4 main clinical centers.
Semmelweis University is one of the country’s largest patient care institutions. In 2023, the university treated more than 170,000 cases of 96,700 inpatients and 2.66 million cases of 425,500 outpatients. There are currently 2,057 active inpatient beds and 285 chronic inpatient beds.
At Semmelweis University, we pride of our diverse range of 40 departments. While each department plays a crucial role in our institution, detailing every aspect of each one would be overwhelming. Instead, we have highlighted key departments here to provide a glimpse into the wide variety and depth of our academic fields.
Department of EMERGENCY MEDICINE
The Department of Emergency Medicine is the central emergency care center for Budapest and the surrounding region. With over 250 employees, it plays a key role in undergraduate, postgraduate, and specialist medical training, and functions as a scientific research hub. Their mission is to continuously enhance the quality of patient care, education, and scientific work.
The Department was established in 2016 as part of the Korányi Project in the newly built Central Patient Care Building of the Outer Clinical Block. In May 2021 the unit was reorganised into its current form: the Department of Emergency Medicine.- Its core activities include patient admission, triage using the national Hungarian Emergency Triage System, stabilization, and, when possible, definitive management of urgent medical cases across a broad spectrum of specialties.
- The Department handles emergency presentations ranging from trauma and acute medical conditions to complex multi-system emergencies. It cooperates with many specialties to deliver prompt care in high-urgency scenarios.
- The Department is a major teaching and training centre: it provides undergraduate and postgraduate education in emergency medicine, and serves as an accredited specialist-training site (Level III), contributing substantially to the formation of future emergency-care professionals.
- The Department is committed to continuous quality improvement through simulation-based training, research activities and professional development initiatives.
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine & Intensive Care
The Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy was established in 1991. The main profiles of the Department include respiratory failure, conventional and novel ventilatory support, sepsis and septic shock, ischemia/reperfusion, myocardium protection, intensive care-related genetics, peripartum bleeding disorders and various cases of anaesthesia (e.g. cardiac, orthopaedic, gynaecological, obstetric, paediatric and neonatal anaesthesia). As a regional university centre the management of high risk patients is also part of the daily work. The Department runs a pain clinic as well, offering help for patients with chronic pain and taking care of patients requiring long-term outpatient ventilatory support.
Due to its role in providing progressive professional backup for intensive care and anaesthesia units in Budapest and in the region, the Department provides therapy for patients with even the most complicated cases of cardiac, obstetric, postoperative, haematological and metabolic disorders.- The Department is present on 13 sites across the University. It has ICU beds on three sites: the Kútvölgyi ICU, the Városmajor ICU and the Central ICU; additionally, the Department has also undertaken the role of consultant in various other University ICUs.
- Undergraduate and postgraduate education has always received a great deal of attention at the Department. In undergraduate terms, Intensive Care-Anaesthesia and Emergency Medicine-Oxyology are the subjects provided by the Department for medical students in their 9th or 10th semester in Hungarian, English and German.
- The Department treats approximately 1,000 ICU patients per year, most of whom require mechanical ventilation.
Department of Surgery, Transplantology and Gastroenterology
With the integration of the Department of Surgery and Interventional Gastroenterology, the 1st Clinic of Surgery, the 2nd Clinic of Surgery and the Clinic of Transplantation and Surgery in 2021, a unique surgical- gastroenterological complex was created in Hungary, where the disciplines of surgery, anesthesiology and intensive care, and gastroenterology are located under one roof, providing a wide range of services. The Department performs patient care at the highest level, from diagnostics, and rehabilitation to postoperative management, and offers a place for elite training. Every year, more than 150 Hungarian, 200 English, and 100 German-speaking medical students are involved in the surgical program.
The annual number of surgeries is around 3,500- 4,000, the vast majority of which allow the treatment of conditions that require oncology surgery or the most progressive care.- The Clinic is equipped with 101 beds and six operation theatres.
- More than 50,000 patients visit outpatient clinics each year.
- One-day surgery and advanced laparoscopic methods enable a faster healing process.
- 200 kidney and 80 liver implantations and 150- 200 multiorgan retrievals are carried out annually.
- The Department is a transplantation training center accredited by the Europen Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) Transplant Surgery
- Division.
- “Da Vinci” robotic surgery was introduced in 2022.
Pediatric Center
Since January 1, 2023, the two historic sites the Bókay Department and the Tűzoltó Department have been operating under one management at two sites as a unified Pediatric Center, performing a triple task: treatment of sick children, education of the future generation, and research to improve the quality of pediatrics. The Bókay Street unit is now the national centre of excellence for premature, neonatal and infant care, as well as renal and hepatic care, while the Tűzoltó Street unit is traditionally focused on pediatric oncology, pediatric hematology and, more recently, pediatric rheumatology. Both departments also provide education for medical and health science students, vocational and further training for colleagues in three languages.
The Bókay University Hospital operates with 160 inpatient beds and provides quality care for children in the following highly specialized (tertiary) services: renal diseases, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy and headache, liver and gastrointestinal disorders, obstructive pulmonary diseases, immune disorders, mental illnesses, neonatal developmental disorders requiring surgical care, neonatal, infant and pediatric surgical and urologic diseases, low birth weight and premature newborns requiring mechanical ventilation, and heart conditions.
The Tűzoltó University Hospital operates with 124 inpatient beds and provides quality care for children in the following pediatric fields: general pediatrics, pediatric intensive care, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, genetics, surgery, hematology, hypertension, and metabolic disorders, nephrology, neurology, oncology, immunology, psychology, pulmonology, pediatric radiology, and rheumatology.
Heart and Vascular Center
Besides a full cardiology profile, the principal role of the Heart and Vascular Center is to perform invasive cardiology procedures of all types. It has an active role in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction cases with urgent coronary angioplasty (primarily PCI) covering the capital Budapest, and the Central Hungarian Region. It is admitting urgent cases and is treating, with urgent percutaneous intervention, acute myocardial infarction cases.
Gradual medical education takes place in three languages at the Center, which is also taking part in postgraduate specialty training and is also integrated into the School of PhD Studies.
The Cardiovascular Center – Invasive Cardiology Department with 27 beds is the national center for adult heart transplantations. Its mechanical heart program helps patients in a life-threatening condition. Besides the classic vascular procedures, the department participates in several interventional radiological treatments and hybrid interventions.- The Department of Cardiology with 17 beds is a traditional cardiology department, where patients are treated after interventions that allow for a short hospital stay. Classical medical treatment of patients with heart disease is also among the roles of this department.
- The Department of Diagnostic Radiology supports patient care by an imaging diagnostic profile. It operates an imaging lab, focusing on cardiac and vascular imaging with high-resolution and fast CT, and MRI devices.
- The Outpatient Department has besides traditional cardiological examinations special units for patients who underwent pacemaker implantation and also for patients suffering from heart failure.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is an outstandingly, high quality and high standard centrum on the field of obstetrics, general gynecology, neonatology and assisted reproductive medicine, that is made up by the two divisions of Üllői street division and Baross street division. The Baross Street Department of the clinic is the oldest obstetrics department in Hungary. Since its foundation in 1812, it has played a decisive role in the development of Hungarian obstetrics and gynaecology, and many great personalities have worked as doctors at the clinic. Among others, Ignác Semmelweis, the eponym of the university, was the director professor of the clinic from 1855 until his death in 1866.
Besides general obstetrics and gynecology subspecial fields are also represented as endometriosis care, gynecological oncology care, infertility treatment and pelvic floor disease care. It combines state-of-the-art neuronavigation, minimally invasive spine surgery, endovascular (catheter) interventions, stereotactic, endoscopic and laser neurosurgical procedures, thereby covering almost the full spectrum of modern neurosurgical practice.- Alongside medical care, the Department also puts a priority standard on medical education both in Hungarian, English and German language for medical students, midwives, ambulance officers.
- The colleagues from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology put great effort in not only patient care, but also in scientific activity. They attend regional and international congresses, and are cited domestically and internationally. Every year they provide new scientific topics to our enthusiastic students.
- Obstetrics and gynecology studies start in the fifth year and – throughout the whole curricula – finishes at the end of the sixth year as part of the clinical education. During this period, the goal is to set the knowledge of obstetrics and gynecology together with the knowledge of other theoretical and clinical subjects of medicine.
Department of Neurosurgery and Neurointervention
The Department of Neurosurgery and Neurointervention at Semmelweis University provides world-class neurosurgical and neurointerventional care for both adults and children. As a national-level neurosurgical centre, the Department ensures rapid diagnostics and treatment, with multidisciplinary teams including neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuro-oncologists, epileptologists and stroke specialists working closely together, often decisive for survival or preservation of neurological function in acute and complex cases.
The Department delivers comprehensive neurosurgical, neurological, neuro-oncological, epilepsy, vascular (stroke / aneurysm / malformation) and neuro interventional services.- It combines state-of-the-art neuronavigation, minimally invasive spine surgery, endovascular (catheter) interventions, stereotactic, endoscopic and laser neurosurgical procedures — thereby covering almost the full spectrum of modern neurosurgical practice.
- The Department maintains the largest neurointensive-care unit in Hungary, with specialized intensive care for both adult and paediatric patients.
- Around 3,500 major operations per year are performed in five operating theatres, including endovascular interventions, stereotactic, endoscopic/laser, implant and classical microsurgical procedures. The outpatient turnover reaches roughly 50,000 cases per year.
- The Department is recognised as the third-largest neurosurgical centre in Europe.
Department of Orthopedics
The Orthopedic Clinic at Semmelweis University was founded in 1951. Since then, it has grown to become one of Hungary’s leading orthopaedic institutions, combining high-level patient care, education, and cutting-edge research.
The Clinic covers the full spectrum of modern orthopaedic surgery: from joint replacement and prosthetics (hip, knee, revision surgeries) to paediatric orthopaedics, musculoskeletal tumour surgery, hand and foot surgery, arthroscopic procedures, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation.- It provides specialised care in complex or rare cases — including bone- and soft-tissue tumour treatments, congenital and developmental orthopaedic disorders in children, limb deformity corrections, and advanced revision surgeries.
- Recently, the Clinic has begun integrating advanced surgical technologies: e.g. roboticassisted procedures (initially for knee replacements), as part of its commitment to innovation and improved surgical accuracy.
- The Clinic operates more than 160 beds. Its services include paediatric orthopaedics, primary and revision joint replacements, tumour surgery, arthroscopy, hand/foot surgery, and rehabilitation, effectively covering the full breadth of orthopaedics.
- Thanks to ongoing research and a high proportion of academic staff, the Clinic remains among Hungary’s most productive in musculoskeletal surgery publications and clinical trials.
Department of Ophthalmology
At the Department of Ophthalmology, all modern microsurgical operations and all areas of vitreoretinal surgery are performed. Microsurgery is complemented by other surgical procedures such as operations on the organs of the eye: lacrimal surgery, and plastic and orbital reconstructive surgery. Laser surgery is extensively used in the treatment of glaucoma, secondary cataracts, fundus diseases, and in the alteration of the refraction of the eye. Education at the department is complemented by English and German language education.
An average of 210-225,000 patients are examined in the outpatient clinics each year.- The number of patients admitted to the wards is 6-7000 and the clinic performs an average 7-8000 ophthalmological operations annually
- Specialised outpatient units include pediatric ophthalmology, orthoptics, premature infants’ clinic, cornea clinic, glaucoma clinic, diabetes clinic, retina clinic, angiography, optical coherence tomography, electrophysiology clinic, ultrasound laboratory, hereditary retinal diseases clinic, neuro-ophthalmology
- The clinic has its contact lens laboratory, where hard contact lenses are made to the highest standards
- A counseling service is available to assist in the primary rehabilitation of the visually impaired with teacher and a social worker education. Visual rehabilitation of visually impaired people is an important task of the clinic.
- Modern ophthalmic diagnostics are performed with state-of-the-art instruments.
- The scientific work covers topics in almost all fields of ophthalmology.