Bulgaria now possesses 18 hospital helicopter landing sites, forming a well-distributed national network for emergency medical assistance by air. This was stated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karadzhov, at the opening of the new hospital helipad at the "Sv. Ivan Rilski" Multi-Profile Hospital for Active Treatment in Gabrovo.
The Deputy Prime Minister presented the site's registration certificate to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rosen Mihaylov and emphasised that Gabrovo is the only city besides Sofia with two hospital helipads. "The system continues to expand. The hospital helipads in Haskovo, Smolyan, and Burgas are in an advanced registration procedure and will be registered in the coming months. Currently, two operational bases are functioning—in Sofia and Sliven. By May, the base in Dolna Mitropolia is expected to become operational, which will allow even better coverage of Northern Bulgaria," Karadzhov indicated.
He also highlighted the progress in training flight personnel. "For the fully-fledged functioning of the HEMS system, about 48–50 pilots are necessary. By the end of March, six more pilots will complete their training; an integrated course for twelve new ones has been launched, as well as a public procurement for the training of another ten. This shows that Bulgaria is not building a temporary measure, but a sustainable system for years ahead," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised.
At present, "Bulgaria Heli Med Service" has four medical helicopters, with the fifth arriving by the end of this month, and by June 2026, the fleet will reach eight machines. Two of them are equipped with winches for mountainous and difficult-to-access terrains—precisely where the "golden hour" is decisive.
The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasised the role of private initiative. "What we are opening here is an example of how private investment can strengthen the national system." Grozdan Karadzhov also launched the expansion of the "Sv. Ivan Rilski" Hospital with a new hospital block. It will house departments for haemodialysis, surgery, anaesthesiology, and intensive care, as well as a modern operating block. "This means new treatment opportunities, more medical specialities, and better care for patients—not only from Gabrovo but from the entire region," the Deputy Prime Minister stated.
The Mayor of Gabrovo, Tanya Hristova, also took part in the event.
