Another Ward at the Hospital in Vratsa Closed due to Shortage of Doctors

Another ward at the hospital in the city of Vratsa (Noth-West of Bulgaria) has stopped working. The cardiology ward temporarily stopped admitting patients because of shortage of doctors and staff.

At the entrance of the hospital, BNT reporter met two elderly women with heavy bags who were leaving the hospital. They arrived early in the morning from a neighbouring municipality for admission to the cardiology but were not admitted.

Nadezhda Georgieva from the town of Krivodol says they were told to refer to hospitals in Sofia or Montana. Answering to BNT question about what the costs would be if they go to a more distant city, one of them explained that it would be impossible to pay. So far, we paid 30 BGN, we've got a taxi to get to the hospital, she said.

The young doctors were very kind and polite, bless them, but they say that they cannot help us with anything else, now we wonder where to go, Toshka Tsenova from the town of Krivodol said.

Officially, the Department of Cardiology is now closed. Three doctors have quitted, so no duty schedule can be prepared. There two post-graduate medical trainees are on leave while waiting for the decision on the fate of the ward.

Orlin Tzvetkov, Executive Director of the University Hospital in Vratsa: The Department temporarily ceased its activity for which we informed the RHI and the Health Insurance Fund and the Emergency Centre in order for the patients with such diseases to be re-directed to other hospitals for treatment.

The hospital said they would seek state assistance to buy an angiograph for invasive cardiology, because that's the only way for medical professionals to come back here.