site.btaNational Association of Medical Institutions for Specialized Outpatient Medical Assistance Established

A National Association of Medical Institutions for Specialized Outpatient Medical Assistance was established, said Dr. Katya Ganova, President of the newly created association, on Thursday.

The association has already been registered and is a voluntary, non-governmental organization of specialist doctors working in outpatient care. 

The main problems in outpatient care are the same in both large and small municipalities, and that's how the idea came to being, said Ganova. The goals of the association are to promote the essence of specialized outpatient care, protect the rights of doctors and health care professionals working in specialized outpatient care, establish a relationship with the Government and promptly inform the members of the organization, she added.

Medical specialists are unanimous that the quality of medical care and access to medical care must be improved through the introduction of new practices, new equipment and investment in staff.

Most of the buildings in which medical institutions are located are old hospital buildings from the 1970s, and repair work requires serious funding, Ganova also said, adding that a period of time is also necessary in which the medical centers must prepare for the planned implementation of medical activities that have been carried out in hospitals so far.

There is a personnel problem, said Associate Professor Galinka Pavlova, Vice President of the association, and pointed out that newly graduated doctors should be given the opportunity to work in specialized outpatient care. The financing of specialized outpatient care is not enough, and the devices that are necessary for the operation of medical centres are expensive, she also pointed out. Pavlova noted that all European projects that the Ministry of Health is working on are aimed at hospitals and medical facilities located in remote areas.

There are 111 diagnostic-consultative centres in the country, and additional medical centres working in the field of specialized outpatient care.