The director of the children's hospital in Sofia, Blagomir Zdravkov, has submitted his resignation to the Ministry of Health. He announced this himself with a post on the social network Facebook.
"I am leaving the Specialized Children's Hospital – Sofia with a lack of reconciliation, pain and sadness. Not because I don't have the strength, but because I refuse to be part of an environment in which administrative pressure and endless inspections replace the meaning of medicine and turn work into survival", declares Zdravkov.
In the reasons for his decision, Dr. Zdravkov also points out that over the past year he has encountered systemic institutional pressure, financial restrictions and a refusal to dialogue instead of partnership. He further adds that in such an environment it is impossible to build, modernize and think strategically about the future and specifies that he will continue to practice the profession where labor, knowledge and medical ethics are respected.
"Nevertheless, the results remain. Tens of thousands of children treated. Growth of the team of specialists and residents. Better pay. More trust. This cannot be erased with correspondence, folders or the signature of an official", the health specialist points out.
"All the time, as a leader, I did not stop being a doctor and providing assistance. Regardless of the day and time. I participated in dozens of missions abroad, providing a guarantee for the lives of seriously ill children transported for treatment that cannot be performed in Bulgaria. I know what the battle for life looks like in the field, not from the office and behind the desk. No one can stop me from being a doctor. If not in Bulgaria, I will continue to work where labor, knowledge and medical ethics are respected. I thank my colleagues and parents for the trust, joy and pain we shared", concludes Dr. Blagomir Zdravkov in his emotional post.
Dr. Zdravkov is an anesthesiologist-resuscitator with interests in the field of emergency pediatrics, pediatric anesthesiology in emergency conditions, resuscitation transport of children, the organization and management of emergency medical care in mass incidents and the management of patient safety in children's healthcare. He started working as an anesthesiologist-resuscitator in the Cardiac Surgery Clinic of the University Hospital “St. Anna”. Since April 2021. he has been the executive director of the Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Children's Diseases “Prof. Ivan Mitev“ EAD. In the period 2017-2021. he is part of the team of the Clinic of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Care of the University Hospital “N. I. Pirogov”. He was a lecturer and consultant to the Bulgarian Red Cross and the Air Force on emergency and rescue issues. Approved as a forensic expert by the Minister of Justice at the Sofia City Court in 2017. Dr. Blagomir Zdravkov graduated in medicine in 2009. From 2011 to 2015, he was part of the teaching staff of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Medical University of Sofia in Base 1 of the University Hospital "Alexandrovska" and Base 2 of the University Hospital "Tsaritsa Ioanna - ISUL". Since 2015, he has acquired a specialty in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care. Since 2016, he has a Master's degree in Public Health and Health Management with a defense on the topic "Organization and Management of Emergency Medical Care". For the period 2014-2016 he acquired qualification in pediatric cardioanesthesia at the Clinic of Surgery of Congenital Heart Malformations of the National Cardiology Hospital. Dr. Zdravkov has been distinguished for his professional activity with awards from the Ministry of Health, the Bulgarian Medical Association and the University Hospital "Tsarina Joanna - ISUL". With participation in Bulgarian and international forums on pediatric AIL and emergency medicine.