A study by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences showed that the mortality rate in our country is the highest in Europe. According to the study, a decrease in the population is also observed due to negative natural growth, reports Nova TV.
Former Minister of Health Dr. Mimi Vitkova does not think that the statistics are surprising.
"We have the oldest population among Europeans. If an analysis is done by decades, one can see whether the oldest are resting or there is an unpleasant trend among the younger ones. 2-3 years ago, the EC announced that we are also at the top of the ranking for preventable mortality. The disparities between Sofia and Vidin are due to the aging population in the Northwest. The health system is not the only one that has a bearing on mortality, it accounts for 20% of it. The rest are social policy, nutrition and others. There are no statistics on what the Bulgarian people are suffering from, and in large cities, medical institutions are multiplying, while medical care in small settlements is being stripped bare. The problem of commercial status in the health system must be solved," she commented.
Other negative trends are the low birth rate – in 2024, 53,727 children were registered, which is 6.6% less than the previous year, as well as the depopulation of rural areas – and this leads to a deterioration in infrastructure and access to healthcare.
The lowest mortality rate is in Sofia-city – 11.3‰, and the highest in Vidin – 24.3‰. In villages, the mortality rate is 1.5 times higher than in cities.
The former Minister of Health - Dr. Miroslav Nenkov, in turn, pointed out that the attitude towards health in our society is worse and less valuable than towards our personal car.
"Our own health is our most valuable asset, no other thing or person. Prevention and follow-up are the key. Measuring the blood pressure of people who have never done it reveals surprises. With 450 hospitals in our country, it is illogical to have the highest mortality rate in Europe, so 300 of them are unnecessary. There is a total neglect of nursing work and medical staff, which perhaps slightly reduces the quality of hospital care. There is no state-wide vision for the future of healthcare. And there is no need for it, because those on whom it depends receive perfect help with a click of a finger. "Doctors should not view patients as revenue," said Nenkov.