PM Borissov: All necessary medicines for treatment of Covid-19 patients and sufficient quantities of vaccines have been provided

Bulgaria expects 230,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of this week and 700,000 doses by the end of April. Sufficient amounts of Remdesivir are provided for the treatment of patients and the health system has all the necessary medicines, disinfectants and oxygen to treat patients with the new virus.

This was reported on March 29 at a working meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, attended by Health Minister Kostadin Angelov and representatives of the National Operational Headquarters (the coronavirus task force).

"The state is prepared for this wave of coronavirus. That's why we first vaccinated the doctors and the medics in order to have an army that could treat patients. All the necessary medicines have been provided, because for us the most important thing is the health and peace of mind of the patients", Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said during the meeting.

He dismissed as “fake news” rumours that state of emergency and new restrictions would be introduced in the country.

"We have fulfilled our commitment and provided the necessary funding to deal with the coronavirus up to May. The next government and Parliament will decide how to continue funding the system in the future. This is democracy," the PM said, adding that everything necessary had been done to hold the Parliamentary elections.

Borissov also noted that more than 10,000 vials of Remdesivir are expected by the end of the week, and the government has provided BGN 80 million in funding for the medicine. He stressed that the funds have been provided for the additional remuneration of all employees working on the front line in the battle against COVID-19.

Health Minister Kostadin Angelov said that the number of patients in hospital was higher than during the previous wave, but the system was holding up, thanks to earlier preparations and additional quantities of breathing apparatuses, oxygen concentrators, oxygen systems in hospitals and other equipment.

“We have no concerns about the increased demand for hospital care for patients,” Angelov said. He added that many young people suffering from COVID-19 and with severe symptoms sought hospital care late.

As regards vaccination, Angelov said that so far 436,513 people had received doses of Covid-19 vaccines and the number was expected to reach half a million by the end of this week.

The head of the emergency medical service in Sofia, Georgi Gelev, said that on Sunday night they had received 320 calls, of which 67 were about cases of Covid-19, and in 25 cases, admission to hospital had been required.

For the whole day on Sunday, there were close to 500 calls, of which 110 were for Covid-19 patients and 35 cases were hospitalised.

Gelev said that compared to the previous wave in November, the number of calls was slightly lower.

Chief State Health Inspector Angel Kunchev told the meeting that Bulgaria was far from the figures reported in other countries such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Estonia or Hungary.

“There is increases everywhere, most of the countries are tightening the measures,” Kunchev said.

"Hospitals continue to do well and open new beds, including at the Military Medical Academy this morning another clinic has been transformed into a COVID clinic so we can take on all the cases that come," said the Head of the National Operations Headquarters and Chief of the Military Medical Academy. Ventsislav Mutafchyiski. He announced that a "green corridor" for vaccination has been announced at the Military Medical Academy and that the hospital currently has enough quantities for those wishing to be immunized.

The director of "Pirogov" emergency hospital, Prof. Asen Baltov, reports that as of today further 36 beds are being opened in the medical establishment and all of them are equipped with oxygen.

"We have also prepared all resuscitations in case additional resuscitation beds have to be opened," Baltov added. According to him, the employees of the medical institution are motivated to help the patients as much as possible. The director of Pirogov also confirmed that the additional remuneration of BGN 1,000 for the month of April for the frontline medical employees has been provided.

"The total amount of vaccines for Bulgaria, which we expect in April, is nearly 700,000 doses. By the end of this week we will receive over 230,000 doses of the vaccines approved so far, as well as nearly 10,000 vials of Remdesivir ," the Head of the Executive Agency for Medicines Bogdan Kirilov told the meeting.

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