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A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed at the National Press Club of BTA by the Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics (BSLAF) and the University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment (UMHAT) ‘St. Ekaterina’. The document was signed by the Executive Director of the medical institution Prof. Dr. Dimitar Petkov D.Sc. and the Chairman of the Management Board of BSAF Alexander Alexandrov.

With the Memorandum, both parties declare their desire to build a sustainable framework of partnership and cooperation aimed at developing human resources in healthcare, promoting postgraduate and continuing education, the implementation of good medical practices, as well as the implementation of joint initiatives for the benefit of patients and society.

The idea is to be able to benefit from our cooperation in the management of human resources, explained Dimitar Dimitrov, Head of the Registry and Public Relations Department at the University Hospital ‘St. Catherine’. After an analysis in St. Ekaterina’ found that they could bring something new to the organisation, administration of human resources for the benefit of patients. At the same time, the trend in the development of healthcare staff is worrying, we are trying to be able to cope together, Dimitrov added.

We are not just signing a document, but we are laying a solid foundation for a long-term partnership that will be aimed at developing human resources in medicine, promoting postgraduate and continuing education, as well as the implementation of good medical practices in everyday life, commented Prof. Dr. Dimitar Petkov. He recalled that one of the main problems is the shortage of qualified medical staff, so the hospital declares its clear will to fill this deficit by training new staff.

In "St. Ekaterina" has three training rooms, monthly, in order not to disturb the balance of the work of the hospital, can be trained between five-10 people. Currently, the hospital has an acute need for perfusionists (people who take care of the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery), the Executive Director emphasized.

Alexander Alexandrov, Chairman of BULFA, said that with the signing of this document the ambition of the professional organization is to start training more such staff in the Bulgarian educational institutions so that there is a resource to support the Bulgarian healthcare. We show that when stakeholders work in one direction, in the mutual interest and in the interest of patients, things work out, Alexandrov said. Medical assistants are currently trained at seven universities in Bulgaria and can take part in all areas of healthcare in Bulgaria, added the Chairperson. We are categorical that united together and respecting the place, qualification, responsibility of every medical professional, we could do so so that we can quickly solve the problem of personnel deficit, from which the Bulgarian patient is a winner, said Alexandrov.

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BTA

Medical assistants and paramedics are well known, but mostly in emergency and outpatient care and there is no tradition of practicing the profession in hospital care facilities. However, there is an interest in such cooperation on both sides, both from our colleagues and from hospitals. This was said by the Deputy Chairman of the Board of BSLAF Galina Zaharieva at a press conference today.

“We analysed the profession globally and found that in other countries, medical assistants are very well positioned in all hospital structures. Our profession is multifunctional and we can position ourselves anywhere", added Zaharieva.

During the press conference, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Executive Director of St. Ekaterina University Hospital, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Petkov, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of BULAF, Alexander Alexandrov.

With the Memorandum, both sides declared their willingness to build a sustainable framework of partnership and cooperation aimed at developing human resources in healthcare, promoting postgraduate and continuing education, implementing good medical practices, as well as implementing joint initiatives for the benefit of patients and society.

After an analysis at the University Hospital ‘St. Ekaterina’ found that medical assistants could help in organising, administering human resources for the benefit of patients.

“We are not just signing a document, but we are laying a solid foundation for a long-term partnership that will focus on developing human resources in medicine, promoting postgraduate and continuing education, and implementing good medical practices in everyday life,” commented Prof. Dimitar Petkov. He recalled that one of the main problems is the shortage of qualified medical staff, so the hospital declares its clear will to fill this deficit by training new staff.

At the University Hospital "St. Ekaterina’ has three training rooms, monthly, in order not to disturb the work balance of the hospital, between 5-10 people can be trained. "At the moment, the hospital is in dire need of perfusionists (people who take care of the heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery)," stressed Prof. Petkov.

Alexander Alexandrov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Medical Association, said that with the signing of this document, the ambition of the professional organization is to start training more medical assistants in Bulgarian schools so that there is a resource to support Bulgarian healthcare. “We show that when stakeholders work in one direction, in the mutual interest and in the interest of patients, things work out,” said Alexandrov.

He added that currently doctors' assistants are trained at 7 universities in Bulgaria and can take part in all areas of healthcare in Bulgaria.

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Zdrave.net

The Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and St. Catherine with a Memorandum of Cooperation

The partnership aims to develop human resources and promote postgraduate education in healthcare

The Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics and St. Ekaterina University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment are signing a Memorandum of Cooperation today. The aim is partnership and cooperation in the development of human resources in healthcare, as well as the promotion of postgraduate and continuing education.

Cooperation shall also aim at better implementation of medical practices and implementation of joint initiatives.

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NOVA TV

The Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics expressed its categorical disagreement with another case of aggression against a medical specialist. The reason for this was the attack on the paramedic Lyubomir Davidkov in the Emergency Medical Aid Branch in Berkovitsa.

On August 4, while on duty, Davidkov was attacked by an intoxicated patient. The man was aggressive towards the medic while he was being treated in an emergency. The professional organization emphasizes that this is not an isolated case and that violence against medical professionals is a serious problem. More than 1300 paramedics work in the emergency centers in Bulgaria.

Thanks to the investigation, on August 6, the assailant, with the initials M.S., was found and detained. By order of the Montana Public Prosecutor's Office, he was detained for 72 hours.

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The Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics strongly opposes another case of aggression towards a medical specialist, the Union said. The organization expresses its support to the paramedic with many years of professional experience Lyubomir Davidkov from the Branch for Emergency Medical Care - Berkovitsa.

On August 4, in the branch, which is located in the building of the Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment - Berkovitsa, colleague Davidkov was attacked while on duty. The attacker is a patient who was intoxicated and was aggressive towards the medic while he was in emergency care.

There are over 1300 medical assistants (feldshers) in the country, working in the emergency medical centers and their affiliates. The case in Berkovitsa is not a single one, the Union added.

On August 6, after an investigation, M.S. was found and detained, who inflicted the beating on the paramedic. He was detained for 72 hours by a prosecutor's decree, the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Montana said.

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BTA

The Management Board of the Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics strongly opposes another case of aggression towards a medical specialist. We express our support to the paramedic with many years of professional experience Lyubomir Ivanov Davidkov from FSMP Berkovitsa.

On 4 August 2025, in the Emergency Medical Aid Branch in the building of the General Hospital in Berkovitsa, our colleague was attacked while on duty by an intoxicated patient while providing him with emergency assistance.

We are categorical that at a time when the shortage of medical specialists is becoming more visible and problematic, it is absurd and unacceptable for patients to harm medics while caring for their health.

There are over 1300 medical assistants (feldshers) in the country, working in the emergency medical centers and their affiliates. Our colleagues are not only overwhelmed, but also often subject to verbal and physical aggression. The case in FSMP Berkovitsa is not a single one. Unfortunately, we have come to the point where we need urgent help to restore the public's faith and respect for medical professionals.

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BTA