A doctor applies for a scholarship to donate money for air conditioning for the department he works in. He is one of the young residents at Vidin hospital, whom the medical institution and the local government are trying to retain with financial support. Their common goal is to stabilize the health system in the region, bTV reported.
The staff shortage in Vidin hospital is permanent. The most urgent need for doctors is in cardiology, internal medicine, and pulmonology.
Kaloyan completed his medical studies in Bulgaria and returned to Vidin as Dr. Stoyanov.
He has been specializing in the pneumo-phthisiatric department of the local hospital for a year now. He learned about the program to support young doctors and got involved.
"I applied for the scholarship with the intention of donating the money from them to air-condition the ward. I haven't received it yet, but it's still waiting, the municipal money is still waiting", he says.
The financial assistance is 5,000 leva per year for a period of three years against a tripartite contract. According to Dr. Stoyanov, the measure is late, but it's a good start.
"There are actually a lot of young residents at the moment - seven, eight, nine people somewhere are currently at the hospital, which is a serious jump compared to previous years", says Dr. Stoyanov.
Among the young doctors is Dr. Elizabeta Markova. She graduated from medicine in Romania. She returned to Vidin to specialize in "gastroenterology" in the internal medicine department.
"The assistance they provide is not much, it is not enough. Things need to change at the state level," she says.
Two years ago, the local government "forgave" 400,000 leva in taxes and fees to the hospital, and this year - another 150,000 leva. The measures to retain young doctors also need to produce lasting results.