Pirogov Emergency Hospital

Protests under the slogan „Get the mafia out of healthcare!" will take place today from 5 p.m. in front of the Council of Ministers in Sofia. Besides the capital, protests are also organized in Plovdiv, Varna, Ruse, and The Hague, Netherlands.

Healthcare Minister Hristo Hinkov conveyed to journalists today that he will not continue in his role following the anticipated cabinet rotation in March. Citing a lack of political support as a pivotal factor, Hinkov stressed that the choice to step down was solely his own.

The CEO of the Pirogov Emergency Hospital Prof. Asen Baltov believes that it is absolutely necessary now to introduce very stringent measures for two weeks to contain the spread of coronavirus.

It has not been officially confirmed yet that the new strain of coronavirus  has already been detected in Bulgaria, said Prof. Asen Baltov, Director of Pirogov Emergency Hospital, quoted by BGNES

Bulgaria is 27th in coronavirus morbidity and 6th in mortality rate in the EU. We top mortality charts in the Balkans. The highest morbidity rates are documented in Vratsa, Pleven, Pernik.

That's what the Chief State Health Inspector, Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev said during the traditional briefing on the spread of the coronavirus in the country, BGNES reports.

The government allocates nearly BGN 100 million for the medical institutions, which provide over 50% of their bed capacity for the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

The funds are also intended for repair, construction and new equipment in large hospitals.

Bulgaria ranks first in Europe in terms of the consumption of cigarettes among 16-year old pupils, reported the National Centre for Public Health Protection, cited by BNR.