site.btaBulgarian Cancer Patients Allowed to Continue Treatment in Turkey

Sofia, April 25 (BTA) - The medical treatment of Bulgarian
nationals in Turkey for cancer and other diseases, which was
interrupted by COVID-19-prompted restrictions, may now continue,
 the government press service in Sofia reported on Saturday.

The two countries' ministers of health and foreign affairs will
coordinate the resumption of the process and will verify the
lists of patients, as agreed during a telephone conversation
between Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Borissov drew Erdogan's attention to the needs of the Bulgarian
nationals who have to undergo medical follow-up procedures in
Istanbul. He asked for permission for these patients to enter
Turkey. He said they are about 100 people, mostly cancer
patients, and they need to have chemotherapy.

Borissov said Bulgaria will comply with any conditions which the
 Turkish authorities may deem necessary in view of the
coronavirus pandemic. He suggested that ambulances from Bulgaria
 could take the patients straight to the Istanbul hospitals,
accompanied by security teams.

Istanbul hospital authorities say Bulgarian cancer patients who
have already received surgery in the Turkish metropolis are
seriously ill and must continue their chemotherapy there,
Borissov argued, noting that the follow-up treatment has been
pre-paid. NV/VE