Four more COVID clinics to open in Military Medical Academy in Sofia

The strengthening of the hospitals and the provision of the country with all the necessary medicines continues. The number of people recovering from COVID-19 is increasing. There is more serious pressure on the health care system in the following district centres:

• Sofia
• Blagoevgrad
• Plovdiv
• Bourgas
• Shoumen

This was reported to the Prime Minister Boyko Borissov by the Minister of Health Kostadin Angelov at a working meeting in the Council of Ministers on November 16.

The meeting was also attended by the Head of the National Task Force against the coronavirus and Chief of the Military Medical Academy, Ventsislav Mutafchiiski, the Director of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases and Member of the task force, Todor Kantardzhiev, the Chief State Health Inspector Angel Kunchev and the Director of “Pirogov” emergency hospital Assen Baltov.

The Minister of Health, Kostadin Angelov, pointed out that an organisation has been set up for the five busier district centres to increase the hospital capacity, as well as for the inclusion of specialists on site, who will also provide assistance.

The Head of the National Task Force and Chief of the Military Medical Academy in Sofia, Ventsislav Mutafchyiski said that 4 more clinics for COVID treatment are being opened at the Military Medical Academy.

Regarding the supply of medicines, Minister Angelov was adamant that all medical institutions will be supplied with the necessary medicines.

According to him, the problem is that people are stockpiling with medicines, adding that an additional 20,000 packages of the most demanded medicines will enter the free market. Medicines for pregnant women are also provided.

All participants in the meeting with Prime Minister Borissov confirmed their position that self-medication is absolutely dangerous and the members of the public should seek medical help and not use antibiotics indiscriminately.

Regarding the activity of pharmacies, the Prime Minister Boyko Borissov ordered the Minister of Health to hold a meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union to discuss additional opportunities in the area.

During the meeting, reservations were expressed regarding the mass testing. According to the Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev, this would only give a "snapshot", which, however, will be different after 24 hours.

As regards the antigens tests, , the opinion shared at the meeting was that their use is appropriate for emergency care, hospitals, RHI, in cases where there is a limited resource of PCR tests or when testing larger groups of people.

On the topic of human resources, Kunchev expressed the position that it is of great importance for the Minister of Health to be able to move staff on secondment.

No stricter measures. Borissov: The state must work

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov was adamant that citizens can help both themselves and the health care system by continuing to adhere to the basic anti-epidemic measures - disinfection, distance and discipline.