Vratsa doctors push back against planned hospital management change

Doctors and nurses at the multi-profile hospital in Vratsa, northwestern Bulgaria, are opposing a planned management change they say is designed to destroy the hospital. The Health Ministry has called an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders at which a new board of directors is expected to be elected. Staff consider the change unlawful and say some of the new board members are linked to a private medical facility that is about to open.

Employees say there are lists of staff, from specialist nurses to orderlies, who could be replaced with people from the rival facility, even though the hospital already operates at a critical minimum. Head of surgery Dr. Ivan Cholashki said the hospital cannot afford a single departure. Head of orthopaedics Dr. Georgi Komitski said the manager chosen by the ministry left the hospital two years ago. Staff have asked Health Minister Katya Ivkova to visit and assess the situation.