First of all, we would like to apologize to you and the media representatives for having to communicate with
Ministry of Health (MH) through them.
We quite deliberately do not use the word "dialogue" or the word "conversation," because it is neither one nor the other.
Yesterday, after our action on the streets of Sofia @Butame children's healthcare, the Ministry of Health refused to meet with us.
We were in front of the ministry, waiting. We were told that "no one will get off.".
A few hours later, through a publication in the media, we receive a response that suggests that someone was offended. Or maybe embarrassed?!
The response states that 130 million leva are earmarked for the modernization of pediatrics in the country, 30 of them have already been given, 100 million have been distributed, that is, contracts and public procurements have been concluded and it is a matter of time.
We are expected to gasp. And we gasped.
First – this statement shows that no one in the ministry has read our letters, nor has anyone set foot in a state hospital. We are talking about basic needs, they are talking about high-tech equipment. It is undoubtedly of great importance, but where are we going to put it? On the mold? On the cockroaches? What are we going to include it in? In an EL system from 50 years ago with dozens of prescriptions from the fire department?
Second – if 130 million can be allocated for equipment with such ease, then it is child's play to allocate 15 million to repair the departments in all regional cities. This is what we write in our letters. We are talking about 15 million. Pocket money.
Thirdly - the statement of the Ministry of Health mentions that "at the Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Children's Diseases "Prof. Ivan Mitev" funds are allocated for high-tech equipment and for the renovation of part of the diagnostic and consultative block, as well as part of the premises located below Level 0 - in the main building of the hospital for their reconstruction into a multifunctional Department of Imaging Diagnostics.".
We don't even know how to comment on the cynicism here. The only children's hospital in Bulgaria hasn't had a scanner for years. SCANNER. Children are being taken to other hospitals. This is life-threatening!
Providing a scanner for this hospital is providing the BASIC MINIMUM, not an achievement of the Ministry of Health team.
Talking about caring for this particular hospital is shameless.
Fourth – the Ministry of Health claims that a national children's hospital is a priority. Commendable!
We would like to kindly remind you that even if we live to see it, it does not cancel the need for medical care for children across the country. They will not travel to the National Children's Hospital for every virus and ear infection.
We conclude with the fact that another letter was sent today - to the Health Committee and the Committee for Direct Citizen Participation, Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society, with a copy to the Ministry of Health.
There we reiterate what is urgently needed in children's healthcare and again we ask for a meeting. We hope that at least they will hear us there, if not – we will continue to push… as far as it takes!
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