The state fails...once again

The state is failing…once again. Today, the parliament had the opportunity to show that the National Children's Hospital is a priority not just in words, but a real commitment of the state. Instead – hardly anyone is surprised – they chose silence!

The deputies from "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" (another one from "Vazrazhdane" followed) submitted a proposal for Health Minister Silvi Kirilov to be heard on the resignation of the entire Public Council for the Construction of the National Children's Hospital. The body that was the only guarantee of transparency and public control over the project.

What happened in the end?

The proposal was rejected in order to allow the work of the Parliament to continue undisturbed. We are not surprised by the fact that the rejection was supported precisely by the votes of GERB, "New Beginning", BSP and ITN...

However, the facts are there:

• The entire Public Council, including doctors, experts, and representatives of the civil sector, submitted a collective resignation due to a lack of dialogue, hidden documents, and a refusal to be transparent.
• The Minister of Health accepted the resignation without explanation, without comment, and without any attempt at conversation.
• Now that parliament could hold them accountable, the majority refused to even hear the minister's position.

There are two explanations – either complete apathy on the subject or a deliberate exclusion of society from the process. The National Children's Hospital, as a strategic project for changing the healthcare model, has been on the table for too long.

We are talking about nearly half a billion leva that is about to be spent. We are talking about a hospital that should be a symbol of care and competence! 

Role of the Public Council

The Public Council was created precisely to ensure that this hospital would not be built "in the dark" and "under the table," that the mistakes of the past would not be repeated, that the decisions would be professional, not partisan and in the interest of anyone.

 And how does the state react when this council declares that the process is being carried out in the dark, that it has been denied information, that the public interest is not protected? It accepts. And closes the doors. 

This action by the National Assembly is yet another slap in the face to pediatricians, parents, child patients, and all citizens who believe that health in general, and even more so of children, should be above political chatter and oligarchic vacillations.

How much longer will children wait for „better times“?

How much longer will we wait for  the moment of major reforms in children's healthcare… We won't ask if you're ashamed. We know the answer.

You vote "against" the hearing of the Minister of Health in the plenary hall. We vote "against" you and similar behavior. And we will not stop.