We have been waiting for this children's hospital for 50 years. We will not build it in two months, but we can start honest and transparent relations. The Public Council must be a real corrective, not a screen.
This was explained in the program "Intervjuto" by the acting Minister of Health, Mihail Okoliyski, regarding the project for the National Children's Hospital in Sofia.
"The Public Council, this is its role. Not only to exist as a screen for some secret ministerial intentions or the intentions of this investment company, to give recommendations, the best recommendations, because there are extremely professional, committed people there and these recommendations should be heard. Because at the moment it was just empty talk, some hopes that something very beautiful could happen, and these hopes were disappointed. Now we will work on the regulations, so that we can constitute this council and people can return with trust, because they told me that they will not return if they do not feel sure that they will not be used again. And apart from that, it is very nice, a company like this for the children's hospital receives high salaries, 11 people work, we will instruct what they actually do and why there is no business plan, why there is no time schedule. Deadlines, they are constantly postponed, this sounds a bit like "Belene" to me. in healthcare, because some people have an interest, maybe they have an interest in dragging out the process indefinitely.
BNT: And what are these 11 people doing?
- They are working for me, we will see exactly what they are doing.
BNT: You will check them, right?
- Yes, I told you that all these steps will be checked. As far as I know, they have very luxurious offices with doors without locks, all the extras. On the other hand, transportation to the field still needs to be provided. There are some preliminary talks with the RIA, with the Sofia Municipality, but they are talking about a few months - how about a few months? We can show you what we have done in 5 days. Yesterday we had a meeting of our team and we spent 3 hours looking at the things we have done. When we have not finished them, our colleagues get excited and try to catch up on these tasks. So, in a very short time, an awful lot can be done, believe me. One simply has to dedicate oneself, have the will, have the courage to do such things. In the Ministry of Health, because you asked me what I have found, I see an increase in the pace. One such thing is not servility, but a hope that something can happen. I would even say inspiration. When you give people the opportunity to express themselves, they use it."
Asked what he found in the Ministry of Health and what his priorities are in his short term, Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski said:
"Some of the things did not surprise me, because I already know the system. What surprised me was the lack of sensitivity to programs in the field of public health. There is a resource, there is a desire among colleagues to work. They just need to be given the opportunity to be creative and effective.“
The minister also commented on the suspension of a public procurement for security at the department's facilities:
"The reason we stopped this public procurement was that it was not carried out in the best way – with direct negotiation, without sufficient competition. These are public funds and must be spent in the most responsible way.“
Regarding the public procurement for colon cancer screening and the allegations of inflated prices, Okoliyski emphasized:
"We have data that these tests cost less than the achieved price. This will be examined calmly, professionally and transparently. Bulgaria ranks first in the EU in mortality from cardiovascular diseases and third in oncology. Screening is extremely important.
When asked whether changes in hospital directors are being prepared, the minister replied:
"I have accepted the position of Minister of Health not to implement some list of dismissals, but rather I have a list of specific goals and tasks, possible achievements within this very short mandate of about two months. Where we encounter problematic leadership, when a director does not create the necessary conditions for both comfort and financial discipline in a hospital, we may take measures, but at this point I have not planned any changes of directors with my team. This is more like, this is fake news that is being spread like wildfire to protect some people. I want to assure them that we are in no way politically affiliated. That is also the good thing about this caretaker government, that there are no political quotas, in my cabinet, with my brilliant deputy ministers and chief of staff - we have no such affiliations. I myself have never been a member of a political party. I have my beliefs and so faith, but this in no way prevents me from working and from being objective and acting solely based on evidence. "[p]
Regarding the dissatisfaction of the young doctors, the minister emphasized that the problem is not only financial:
"We had a meeting with them. We did it right away. In my opinion, it is not just about money. These young people are not talking only about money. They are talking about professional development, about working conditions and, above all, about respect. About empathy, which is lacking on the part of many of the managers in these medical institutions. I will give you an example with "Pirogov". There is a Pediatrics Clinic there, which is small and which is put under very great pressure. To be sabotaged in some way and to accept a group of pediatric pulmonologists from the "Ivan Mitev" hospital, which is the children's hospital. And that is why there is no staff, no budget. Such things should not be done in a hurry. These young people should be calm at their workplace, to be respected. That's what they're looking for. There are many people who would return from abroad, including my fellow psychiatrists. They are not happy there, even if they received more money. They sit unloved - unloved, simply because of their working conditions. The conditions in the psychiatrists here are appalling. That's why we are now trying to catch up with the PVU for psychiatric care. We are trying to move the "Ivan Rilski" hospital to Sofia, Kurilo. This project is at great risk there. And if a contract doesn't happen within 2 weeks, we will lose funding under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, where young people can work. By the way, for young people, I don't attribute any other opportunities to myself, from the previous leadership, opportunities have been created to subsidize the work of young doctors, residents, 2.5 minimum wages, and out of 36 positions, only 6 are occupied. That is, It's not a question of money, it's not a small amount of money as a reward, but the question is why young people don't want to study psychiatry, which is one of the best medical specialties, the most interesting work, direct with people. So there is a lot to look for in training programs that are outdated, boring, unfashionable. We have ideas there on how to change some of them. So this is also related to the motivation of young doctors to work, to realize themselves and to start families in Bulgaria."
At the end of the conversation, Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski also commented on the dismissal of the head of the Executive Agency “Medical Supervision“:
"These signals are submitted according to a procedure and one must also work according to one's job description. This job description implies the development of methods for controlling hospitals, the development of transplants in Bulgaria. They are regressing, there is a continuous regress. This year we have only a few transplants. Last year there were about 30, the year before that 40. There are 873 people in Bulgaria who need an organ transplant. Many organs go to Romania. These are questions that need to be answered effectively. There is nothing political here, I say again, because I have stated my arguments. So these signals, when they are submitted and when we become familiar with them, will be resolved."