site.btaMinister Assen Medjidiev: By Mid-June There Will be Helipads for Emergency Helicopters

By mid-June, 10-15 helipads will have been built for the helicopters providing emergency medical assistance by air, caretaker Health Minister Assen Medjidiev told journalists. The first two helicopters are expected to arrive in Bulgaria in early July.

The two helicopters, which will be leased, will be located at operational bases in Dolna Mitropolia and at Vrazhdebna Airport - Sofia, and sites are envisaged in most of the regional and university hospitals.

The training of Bulgarian pilots and medics who will be involved in the provision of medical assistance by air started a few days ago. The training takes place in the simulation centre of the Military Medical Academy. Two groups of 104 medics are to be trained, after passingpreliminary physical and mental tests. A National Coordination Centre is also being estab;ished to manage the provision of medical assistance by air.