The Municipal Hospital "St. Mina" in Plovdiv has been in a difficult economic situation for years, despite the city government's numerous attempts to stabilize it through various subsidies and reorganizations of its structure. The medical team sees a last chance in re-equipping it with modern equipment, which requires several million leva. At a subsequent session of the Municipal Council, however, the item on voting on the money for the medical facility was dropped at the last moment, due to the opposition's requirement to motivate the amount through documents.
The management of the municipal hospital requested a 4 million leva loan to renew the conditions and equipment in the wards. The health facility treats nearly 7,000 patients annually. However, in some departments there is a lack of medical equipment, and in others it is morally outdated.
Dr. Kalin Kalinov – manager of the "St. Mina" Hospital - Plovdiv: "There is no way to carry out diagnostic and consultative activities, to treat patients qualitatively at a modern, contemporary European level in the absence of working conditions."
The greatest need for modern equipment is in the maternity and surgical departments.
Valentin Vladimirov – head of the Surgical Department: "18-year-old table. Electrocautery – 25-year-old. Lamps - snowdrops, they are already 40 years old. We have young people – residents who work. They want to work under different conditions, which is normal."
The conditions in the maternity ward are even worse.
Dr. Kalin Kalinov – manager of the "Sveti Mina" Hospital - Plovdiv: "The operating lamp hangs on two railway tracks. The ceilings do not meet the requirements of the RHI. I don't know when the last latex flooring was laid there. There is no modern ultrasound scanner. There is no modern fetal monitor. We work with old incubators. We are talking about maternal healthcare."
Due to the lack of a detailed financial analysis, the municipal councilors of Plovdiv postponed the vote on the life-saving loan.
Vladimir Slavenski - municipal councilor from PP-DB: "We want to see a forecast for the financial flows for the years ahead, to see whether it will be possible to repay the loan and pay all the amounts plus interest, so that it is as optimal as possible, because if we fail in this loan, then we will come back to the municipal budget."
The final decision on whether to take out a loan to renovate the hospital will be made by the municipal councilors after the vacation.