site.btaBulgaria's First Licensed Hospital Heliport Inaugurated in Panagyurishte

Bulgaria's first licensed hospital heliport for the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) was inaugurated at Uni Hospital in Panagyurishte on Wednesday. Uni Hospital Director Yavor Drenski received the license from Civil Aviation Administration Director General Anelia Marinova in the presence of Health Minister Hristo Hinkov, other officials and journalists.

They watched a helicopter take-off and landing demonstration at the newly licensed facility.

Marinova said the HEMS has been long awaited by the public. The hospital helipad in Panagyurishte meets the requirements of a Transport Ministry ordinance concerning the operational fitness of airports, the licensing of airport operators and ground control services.

The new facility will provide another possibility for timely transportation of polytraumatized patients and people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, the hospital said.

Bulgaria has six hospital heliports undergoing a licensing procedure, the Transport Ministry said. They are located at Lozenets Hospital, Prof. Alexander Chirkov Hospital and St Anna Hospital in Sofia, Kaneff Hospital in Ruse, St George Hospital in Plovdiv and the southern end of the Zheleznitsa Tunnel on the Struma Motorway. Another four are being designed, to be located in hospitals in Sliven, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo and Stara Zagora.

The first HEMS training heliport was inaugurated at the Air Force Academy in Dolna Mitropoliya on September 22.