site.btaRenovation of Temporary Operational Base for Air Ambulance Begins
Caretaker Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov and the Mayor of Sliven Stefan Radev reported the start of the renovation of the temporary operational base for the air ambulance, Bulgaria Heli Med Service (HEMS), located at Barshen Airport.
The base will service the eastern part of the country, with a second helicopter expected to arrive at the end of November.
The Minister said that the municipality of Sliven started a procedure to provide the site to the HEMS operator in January. All public procurement procedures for the renovation and modernization of the facility have been carried out. The cost of the renovation will be around BGN 620,000 excluding VAT. The licensing of the heliport is also included in the project. The base should be operational as soon as the second helicopter arrives.
Gvozdeykov recalled that the base is temporary. A contractor to build a new operational base is yet to be selected, which will be funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The facility at the Sliven airport is used temporarily, so as not to delay emergency medical services. The procedure for the new base has been done but there are appeals and once the court has ruled, the selection of a contractor can begin.
Asked to comment on the operation of the air ambulance, Gvozdeykov said that many lives have already been saved. He added that considering that this investment was about saving lives, it has already paid off.
Radev reported that the airport had not been used in about 30 years. Once it no longer hosts HEMS, the administration will try to open it for festivals and automotive events.
/YV/
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