site.btaHealth Minister Kirilov Comments on Health of 15 Kocani Victims Hospitalised in Bulgaria

In a bTV interview on Sunday evening, Health Minister Silvi Kirilov said that all 15 victims of the Kocani fire hospitalised in Bulgaria are stable, and are mostly suffering from fume inhalation. 

Fifty-nine people died and more than 170 were injured after a fire broke out at the Pulse nightclub in North Macedonia's town of Kocani during a concert by the famous band DNK. The cause of the fire was pyrotechnic effects used during the concert, which set fire to the club's roof.

Minister Kirilov stated that a total of 15 people of different ages are in hospitals in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv, with only two of them being 30 years old, all the others being under that age, and five being under 18 years old. "We have two extubated, we can say that they are in good general condition, and those who are on mechanical ventilation are in serious stable condition," Kirilov said. 

Kirilov noted that Bulgaria’s response to the situation in Kocani shows how adequate Bulgarian hospital care is and how well-prepared specialists there are.

Kirilov also said that the second medical helicopter due to begin operation in the country  is still in the process of registration. The third helicopter will arrive at the end of the month.

There are flight and medical personnel trained and ready for all helicopters, he indicated.

Kirilov also commented on a proposal for private hospitals to organize public procurement and tenders for medicines, pointing out that it is not good practice to regulate issues that are subject to the Public Procurement Act through transitional and final provisions of the State Budget Act. 

He called the decision to provide free antibiotics and antiviral drugs for children up to seven years of age, a good first step.

Regarding the postponement of the fully electronic prescriptions, which should be introduced from April 1, the Minister recalled that a year ago the same conversation was held when they were introduced for antibiotics and for diabetes medications. So far, over 7,250,000 electronic prescriptions have been written. “I myself write electronic prescriptions every day and I do not see anything that would bother doctors or pharmacists. Perhaps for a certain period of time both should be in effect,” Minister Kirilov noted.