Bulgaria’s health care system in a critical condition

Bulgaria’s health care system is in a critical condition, Health Minister Radoslav Gaidarski said in Bourgas on Monday. The medical equipment in all health care establishments is in a poor condition and is about 20 years old, Gaidarski told the management of the local hospital.

New equipment will be bought with an appropriation of 30 million leva; eight scanners will be made available to major health care centres around the country; and 150 new ambulances will be bought for the first time in nearly six years.

Gaidarski said the hospital in Bourgas was worst off: it is one of the ten biggest debtors and ranks first in the amount of new debt accumulated. At 75 per cent in January-May, its occupancy rate is unsatisfactory, although 80 beds were removed. One solution would be to sell or award concessions for the unused properties.

All health care establishments should solve their financial зroblems by the year’s end, Gaidarski said. Earlier on Monday he opened a new radiology centre with the city’s cancer dispensary.

BTA from Bourgas