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The first hospital heliport in Sofia is already registered according to the requirements for HEMS. It is located at St. Anne’s UMBAL and will be included in the air medical emergency system. This was announced by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Gvozdeikov, during the presentation of the registration documents at the airport to the executive director of the medical facility, Dr. Slavcho Bliznakov.

“Soon we will have a total of eight hospital heliports. We already have three registered sites in “St. Anna” UMBAL, “Uni Hospital” UMBAL-Panagyurishte and “Sveta Marina” UMBAL-Varna. “At the moment, DG Civil Aviation Administration is examining the documents of five more hospitals, two of which are in Sofia and one each in Ruse, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo,” Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov said. He pointed out that in order for the system to be maximally effective, there should be at least two receiving hospitals in the perimeter of each operational base.

Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov explained that official confirmation was received from the manufacturer of the medical helicopters Leonardo SpA., that final tests of the machine are ahead and on January 31, it will fly from Italy to Bulgaria. “It is important to emphasize that this will be done in good weather conditions to make the flight safe,” explained the transport minister.

The Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Ilko Getov recalled that there are 26 medical facilities in the country that have received a targeted subsidy from the government for the construction of helipads and the adjacent communication infrastructure. The Center for Air Emergency Medical Assistance is now operational, three medical teams are prepared to start duty together with the flight teams after the arrival of the first helicopter. “The Ministry of Health continues to work hard to support emergency care in the country, both with equipment, teams and remuneration, as well as with training,” assured Prof. Getov.

The event was attended by the advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr. Petar Gribnev, the Director General of the DG Civil Aviation Administration Anelia Marinova, the management of Bulgaria Heli Med Service EAD and others.