The natural resources of Bulgaria – mineral waters, air, nature, are the huge wealth that our country has and which can be developed through the development of health tourism. The potential for the development of the segment is huge. Around this opinion, representatives of balneology, rehabilitation, representatives of SPA and Wellness hotels and rehabilitation centers united, who took part in a round table on the topic "Plan for the development of health tourism with a focus on medical tourism", which was held in Sofia.< /p>
However, the development of balneotherapy in our country cannot happen without the active participation of the state and the positioning of our country as a destination for medical tourism. All countries have a strict program for the development of medical and health tourism. Neighboring Turkey and distant China were cited as examples. In our southern neighbor, a program was created to develop Turkey as a world destination for health tourism. The program had a long term of 10 years, but managed to achieve its goals within 8 years.
„In China, an entire mini-city with 50 hospitals of various fields is currently being built from scratch. 31 of the hospitals have already been built, respectively with all the necessary infrastructure – roads, an airport to serve this town. All the world's medical and pharmaceutical companies have been attracted and an exhibition center has been created in which they present their latest medical achievements, said Zhivko Nedelchev from the Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, who was recently in the Asian country.
Bulgaria definitely has a lot to learn from foreign experience, which, especially after the pandemic caused by the coronavirus, implemented a number of innovations in the field of medical tourism in order to reduce the consequences of Covid-19.
„It is necessary to popularize the profession of physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor. In recent years, the profession has been dying and this makes it difficult to develop medical and spa tourism in the interior of the country, said Vesela Bogdanova from the Spa Hotel in Sapareva Banya.
A message was also made at the event to consider the idea of separate vouchers for rehabilitation and respite, similar to those currently given for food.
The shortage of personnel also had to be affected. There is no shortage of doctors. "However, the process of retraining in the profession must be increased," believes the Minister of Health, Galya Kondeva. However, the problem of recruiting personnel such as rehabilitators, physiotherapists and all health care specialists is significant.
Regarding prevention and prevention programs, Kondeva indicated that the Ministry has a "Public Health" directorate that could work in this direction. For years, however, the problem has been with funding. The solution can be found in the European support programs, where by developing a project funding can be sought. Minister Kondeva does not rule out the possibility of creating a working group to discuss all these problems through the "Public Health" Directorate. and the Chronic Noncommunicable Disease Prevention Program to seek funding options for prevention in the physical therapy service.