The general hospital in Tutrakan on the Danube ranks among the top three medical establishments in the country inobstetrics and gynaecology, according to the national “Best hospitals in Bulgaria” rankings.

The wards in the obstetrics and gynaecology clinic have been renovated fully with the help of donations and European funding. The medical establishment has European certificates for minimally invasive surgery, and in gynaecology, more than 84 percent of all surgeries are performed endoscopically.

“We try to maintain a European standard in everything and endeavour to be at the service of all patients who put their trust in us,” says Dr. Lyubomir Boychev, head of the obstetrics and gynaecology department at the hospital. “And I am not saying this solely on the basis of what our patients say, I am saying it on the basis of staff qualification, specializations, surgery standards, management of the structure. We have always endeavoured to be of service to the people who need us. I have been in charge of the ward for 23 years, since 1996. I have invested a great deal of energy in staff qualification, in forming the teams needed, in equipment. That is even more important now that we are a teaching facility. We now have a solid team of young people and I am happy to have been able to attract them to our clinic.”

But how is a provincial town able to attract young people? The limited amount of financing from the National Health Insurance Fund does not cover the real costs of treatment, that is why the salaries of the medical workers are far from alluring.

“What drives us forward is not how to grapple with the problems but how to assert the things that are good. It is clear that the problems are for everyone, but good things have to be developed. That is why it is our intention to persistently assert the things that benefit the public. Believe me, we have invested a great deal of efforts in this. There are labour shortages all across the country, we are no exception, there is a shortage here too, but I would say it is only partial. Salaries, capacity and admission limits leave a lot to be desired. Nonetheless I think that young people must be given hope. They must know they will have room for development. That is critical.”

Dr. Boychev himself has specialized abroad ten times (in Vienna, Strasbourg and Nimes). 500 children are born in his ward every year. More than 65 percent of the patients at the obstetrics and gynaecology clinic come from outside the region the clinic caters for:

“In practice we take patients from all over the country. We do this without any fuss, and our only aim is to help those who need our help. We perform operations which are quite innovative. We are among the first hospitals in the country to have engaged in minimally invasive surgery. In practice every one of the 32 people on the team has contributed to this working environment. I would like to congratulate the entire team for their dedication 24/7.”

Editor: Darina Grigorova

English version: Milena Daynova