Bulgaria: Tin-Can Ambulances Transport Patients without Changing Seat Covers

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted not only the problems in hospital and pre-hospital care in our country, but also enabled fraudsters to profit on the backs of patients. It turns out that in Bulgaria the so-called "tin-can" decrepit cars are found not only among taxis, but also among ambulances.

However, the dangers that put you at risk are more frightening than those in taxis operating unregulated.

Amid a critical shortage of Emergency Medical Center teams and long waiting hours, many people turned to private ambulances promising emergency care. Unaware that they have fallen into the hands of fraudsters who work entirely in the grey sector.

One of the most flagrant cases is that of an elderly woman who has paid BGN 750 for transportation with such allegedly specialized car - and without a doctor, as the standard price for such a service is BGN 50. However, the patient could not prove the fraud because she did not have a receipt and did not write down the ambulance's license plate number.

Even more shocking is the incident when a private ambulance driver literally discarded the body of a deceased patient on the pavement in front of the emergency room of one of the major Sofia hospitals. Then he ran away and was never found.

How they make money at the expense of sick people?

Most often,  banger ambulances are parked in front of hospitals, and their drivers lie to patients about being doctors. On such "specialized" cars one can even see an inscription "Ambulance", which is also a scam.

Of course, there is no price list. Prices are determined as driver thinks fit, and very often the graver the case, the higher the price. A cash receipt is not issued, and if death occurs in such private ambulance, relatives can...