====== General University Hospital Alicante ======

Neurosurgery Department, General University Hospital, [[Alicante]], [[Spain]]

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**Official name:** Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis de Alicante  
**Address:** Calle Pintor Baeza, 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain  
**Phone:** +34 965 933 000  

**Website:** [[https://alicante.san.gva.es/|alicante.san.gva.es]]  

**Founded:** 1956  

**Total beds:** 807  

**Operator:** Generalitat Valenciana  

**University affiliation:** University of Alicante  

===== Historical Background =====
The hospital was renamed in 2021 in honor of **Dr. Francisco Javier Balmis**, a physician from Alicante who led the 19th-century Spanish expedition to spread smallpox vaccination across Latin America and Asia.

===== Services and Specialties =====

==== Medical Departments ====
  * Cardiology
  * Neurology
  * Oncology
  * Endocrinology
  * Nephrology
  * Pulmonology
  * Hematology
  * Rheumatology
  * Infectious Diseases
  * Internal Medicine

==== Surgical Units ====
  * General Surgery
  * Cardiothoracic Surgery
  * Neurosurgery
  * Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery
  * Vascular Surgery
  * Plastic Surgery
  * Pediatric Surgery

==== Specialized Units ====
  * Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
  * Burn Unit
  * Rare Diseases Unit
  * Breast Pathology Unit

===== Research and Innovation =====
The hospital is affiliated with **ISABIAL** (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante). It actively participates in clinical research, innovation projects, and academic collaboration.

In 2024, it introduced **AI-powered diagnostic systems** for radiograph interpretation (chest and skeletal), improving accuracy and workflow efficiency.

===== Regional Referral Role =====
The hospital acts as a **reference center** for complex pathologies and procedures, including:
  * Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  * Advanced digestive endoscopy techniques
  * Neuro-oncology and pediatric neurosurgery
  * Inter-hospital coordination across Alicante province (Denia, Elche, Alcoy, Orihuela, Elda, etc.)

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''The General University Hospital Dr. Balmis is a cornerstone of public health in the Valencian Community, combining advanced care, medical education, and biomedical innovation.''