Ministry of Transport launches a procedure for renting 2 air ambulance helicopters

The Ministry of Transport announced a procedure for the operational leasing of two helicopters with all medical equipment attached to them and trained and licensed pilots, Caretaker Minister of Transport, Hristo Alexiev, told a briefing at the Council of Ministers on March 22.

The deadline for participation in the procedure expires in May. It is expected that the air medical aid system will be operational in the country by the middle of the year, Alexiev said.

Renting the helicopters is temporary until the country gets its own helicopter ambulances. The first Bulgarian medical helicopter is expected to arrive in the country in December.

The helicopter ambulances lease order is for two years with an option to extend it by another 1.

Health minister: Hospital helipads for air ambulance helicopters to be built in most cities in Bulgaria

Caretaker Minister Alexiev also announced that the website that shows the prices of food products is now ready and will be presented on Friday. He said food chains have agreed to publish data on the information portal.

"This will be a voluntary initiative – those who want, will be able to publish their prices," he said.

However, there are penalties if a trader has submitted misleading price information on the information portal.

At its meeting today, the Council of Ministers adopted a recovery and digitisation plan for Bulgarian Posts. It provides for state aid of BGN 50 million, for which a notification has been issued in Brussels.

Work is also underway on a plan for the restructuring of Bulgarian Posts’ debts.

The objectives set are for Bulgarian Posts to achieve a 15% share of the courier services market and to enter the financial market.